Kyrgyz means the “40 tribes” or the “descendants of 40 women.” Kyrgyzstan refers to the 40 Kyrgyz groups. It is a rugged country with a mountain range covering most of the territory. It is also called the “Switzerland of the Central Asia.” Lake Issyk-Kul, the world’s second largest lake, is located in Kyrgyzstan. Lake Issyk Kul has a length of 182 km and a width of up to 60 km. Lake Song-Kul (altitude 3013 m) is a naturally fresh water reservoir, best known as the highest reservoir in the world. Since the change of temperature of the lake is dramatic, the temperature in the shade falls below zero even during the summer days. Nomads around the Lake Song-Kul live in the traditional houses, called the Yurt. The Epic of Manas is a deeply loved traditional epic poem of the Kyrgyz people; a “Manaschi” performs part of the epic poem. The poem is sixteen times longer than Homer's Odyssey and Iliad combined, and “Manaschi” is designated as a world intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.