Little known, less traveled Kyrgyzstan has enchanted us with its fertile, historically pivotal valleys, its big-hearted folks, and its extraordinary mountains (it's in the middle of the gargantuan Pamir Knot, from which radiate five of the world's highest ranges).

• TOTAL AREA: 198,500 sq km

• LAND AREA: 191,300 sq km

• WATER AREA: 7,200 sq km

• POPULATION: 5,213,898

• RELIGIONS: Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%

• LANGUAGES: Kyrgyz (official), Russian (official)

• GOVERNMENT TYPE: Republic

• CAPITAL CITY: Bishkek

• OFFICIAL CURRENCY: N/A

• TIME ZONE: GMT/UTC +5