The world's largest landlocked country that is also the furthest from any ocean

When picturing the country furthest from any ocean in the world, one might imagine a place completely void of life, like an arid desert. However, this is not the case.

The country that takes this title is actually in Central Asia and boasts some of the most incredible scenery on the planet, from dramatic mountains, to picturesque lakes and bustling cities. At a distance of 1,620 miles to the closest coastline, at the Indian Ocean, this country has been dubbed the world's "country of inaccessibility". It is also the largest of the 44 landlocked countries in the world, covering an area of an incredible 77,261 square miles.

Kyrgyzstan shares borders with China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Around four-fifths of its land is covered by mountains, including the Tian Shan and Pamir ranges.

Kyrgyzstan is also home to some of the most incredible lake scenery anywhere on Earth. This includes, Song-Kul, a remote alpine lake right at the centre of the country. Issyk-Kul, meanwhile, is a little more accessible and is the world's second-largest Alpine lake. In a place like this, it doesn't feel like you're thousands of miles from the ocean.

First settled by Kyrgyz tribes from Siberia in the 17th century, Kyrgyzstan became part of the Russian Empire in 1876. In August 1991, Kyrgyzstan declared independence from the Soviet Union, and a democratic government was established. Since 2021, it has operated under a presidential system.

Kyrgyz is derived from the Turkic word for "we are forty," which is believed to refer to the 40 clans of Manas, a legendary hero who united 40 regional clans. The 40-ray sun on the country's flag also refers to those tribes.

Kyrgyzstan's distance from the sea and mountainous landscapes have a big impact on its climate, with hot winds arriving from the deserts. In the summer, temperatures often reach 28C, while in January they can plunge to a bitter -18C.

While the Indian Ocean may be 1,620 miles away, the nearest sea is much closer. Kyrgyzstan is 782 miles away from the Arabian Sea, which directly connects to the Indian Ocean.

While Kyrgyzstan is the country with borders furthest from any ocean, it doesn’t actually contain the exact point on the globe furthest from the coastline.

That is also in Central Asia, but in the Dzungarian Basin, in North-West China, a point where China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia meet.