When we portray the country that is farthest from all the oceans of the world, we may imagine a place that is totally without life, like a dry desert. However, that's not the case.
The country that has acquired this title is actually located in Central Asia, boasting the most incredible scenery on the planet, from dramatic mountains to picturesque lakes and bustling cities. Located 1,620 miles from the nearest coastline of the Indian Ocean, the country is known as the “inaccessible country” of the world. It is also the largest country of the world's 44 inland areas, covering an incredible 77,261 square miles.
Kyrgyzstan shares borders with China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. About four-fifths of the land are covered in mountains, including the celestial shan and Pamir range.
Kyrgyzstan has the most incredible lake views anywhere on the planet. This includes remote alpine lakes in the heart of the country. Meanwhile, Issyk-Kul is a little more accessible and the second largest alpine lake in the world. In places like this you don't feel like thousands of miles from the ocean.
First calmed down Kyrgyzstan, a Kyrgyz tribe from Siberia in the 17th century, became part of the Russian Empire in 1876. In August 1991, Kyrgyzstan declared independence from the Soviet Union and the Democratic government was established. It has been operating under the presidential system since 2021.
Kyrgyzstan comes from the Turkish word “We Are Forty.” This is thought to refer to the 40 clans of Manas, the legendary heroes who united 40 regional clans. The 40-line sun on the national flag also refers to those tribes.
The distance from the seas of Kyrgyzstan and the mountainous landscapes have a major impact on the climate as hot winds arrive from the desert. In summer, temperatures often reach 28c, but in January you can enter the bitter -18c.
The Indian Ocean may be 1,620 miles away, but the nearest ocean is much closer. Kyrgyzstan is 782 miles away from the Arabian Sea, which directly connects to the Indian Ocean.
Kyrgyzstan is the country with the farthest borders from any ocean, but in fact it does not include the exact points on Earth, which are the farthest from the coastline.
It is also central Asia, but in the Zungary Basin in northwestern China, it is the point where China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia meet.
