Bishkek, << BEESH kehk >> (pop. 762,000), is the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan, a country in central Asia. Bishkek lies in the Shu River valley in northern Kyrgyzstan.
Bishkek is a modern city with wide boulevards and many parks. It is Kyrgyzstan’s economic and cultural center. Major industries include food processing and the manufacture of machinery and textiles. The city is the home of several universities, museums, theaters, and musical establishments.
In 1825, a local ruler built a fortress where Bishkek now stands. The fortress and its neighboring city were called Bishkek (also spelled Pishpek). Russians captured the area in the 1860’s. The Soviets renamed the city Frunze in 1926, when Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic. The city’s name was changed back to Bishkek in early 1991. Kyrgyzstan declared itself independent from the Soviet Union later that year.
