Story by Brit McGinnis
Quick, which country’s larger: Algeria or Zambia? Which country’s farther north: Bolivia or Columbia? How many countries make up the British Commonwealth?
If you don’t know, you’re not alone.
The stereotype of the geographically illiterate American has proven to be somewhat correct. The 2006 National Geographic-Roper Geographic Literacy Study showed that only 37 percent of Americans ages 18 to 24 can find Iraq on a map, and only 59 percent know that the Amazon Rainforest is in South America.
As director of the University of Oregon’s Russian and East European Studies Center, associate professor Katya Hokanson, Ph.D., is used to patiently explaining certain areas of the world to Americans who have no idea what she’s talking about. “This happens all the time, but it is never exasperating. It is always, to me, an opportunity.”
But how do we change this status quo? “The best thing Americans can do is to travel, because it puts the world in perspective,” Hokanson says. Thanks to the journeys of various media agencies, we might have a workable knowledge of current events in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but, unfortunately, have no idea what’s going on in the other -stans. Here’s a brief guide to help expand this narrow view of one of the world’s most talked about but least understood regions.
 
Republic of Dagestan
Location: The northwest border of the Caspian Sea.
Population: 2,964,000
Languages: Russian, Agul, Avar, Azeri, Chechen, Dargin, Kumyk, Lak, Lezgian, Nogai, Rutul, Tabasaran, Tat, Tsakhur. (Russian is the official language, but dialects spoken by native peoples are all officially recognized).
Form of Government: Technically, the Republic of Dagestan is not a sovereign nation. It’s referred to as a federal subject of Russia. Before 2006, the highest authoritative body was the State Council, whose 14 members were elected by the Constitutional Assembly of Dagestan. But thanks to some recent political maneuvering by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, executive power is now entirely in the hands of its president, currently Magomedsalam Magomedov. Dagestan also has a legislative branch (the Parliament, or People’s Assembly) and a Supreme Court.
What to Eat: A great deal of the population does not eat pork (due to many people being Muslim) so what’s for dinner is likely mutton. The most popular dish is hinkal, a type of dumpling made from bean, wheat, corn, or other regional variety of flour.
Where to Hang Out: Travel is discouraged here, due to many incidents of terrorism. If you can manage to get in, visit the ancient city of Derbent. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site not only because it’s one of the oldest cities in the area, but also because it’s home to the legendary Gates of Alexander, a citadel that helped Derbent defend its millennial-long hold on the western Caspian Sea.
 
Kazakhstan
Location: Northwest of China, shares a border with Russia.
Population: 15,522,373
Languages: Russian, Kazakh.
Form of Government: It’s huge. Forty-four judges make up the Supreme Court, and 154 people make up Parliament. Constitutional amendments passed in May 2007 now allow presidents to serve for only two consecutive terms. Turns out, though, that this rule doesn’t apply to current head of state Nursultan A. Nazarbayev who, like previous leaders of Kazakhstan, can run for president indefinitely.
What to Eat: Kazakhstan isn’t the best place to be a vegetarian. Many characteristic dishes involve meat with noodles, such as the national dish beshbarmak. This is usually made with horse meat, a staple in Kazakhstan’s cuisine. But have no fear—you’ll find several different types of nationally favored breads and a general appreciation for good produce. And the biggest culinary twist of all? Thanks to various waves of immigration, it’s easy to get Korean food in Kazakhstan.
Where to Hang Out: Almaty, the former capital, is one of the country’s most popular places to visit. Its population tops one million, enormous for the area. And you’re in luck if you’re a sports fan. Kazakhstan is known for its equestrian events, and the national rugby team is famously ferocious. Perhaps equally as well-known is one of Kazakhstan’s most famous fictional citizens: Borat.
 
Kyrgyzstan
Location: Northwest of China, right below Kazakhstan.
Population: 5,587,443
Languages: Russian, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Dungan.
Form of Government: Like the United States, the country has executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government. The Kyrgyz people ousted their allegedly corrupt president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, in 2010. Those same political riots also revealed tensions between two ethnic groups, the Kyrgyzs and the Uzbeks, which endure to this day. The president who stepped in, Roza Otunbayeva, is the first female leader of an ex-Soviet Central Asian nation. Corruption in the government is still common, but unlike other countries in the region, people enjoy an unrestricted Internet culture dominated by bloggers.
What to Eat: Herding culture has certainly influenced the favorite foods of the Kyrgyzs, meaning that like in Kazakhstan you’re unlikely to find a vegetarian walking around. The amount of fat the Kyrgyz people like in their meat would make an American barbecuer blush. The serving of bread and tea is even more culturally significant. Visiting a house in Kygyzstan for even 30 seconds inevitably results in someone offering you this traditional refreshment.
Where to Hang Out: A state of emergency for the western Jalal-Abad province has been in place since the 2010 riots, so you’re better off doing a tourist stint organized by local villagers or nomadic herdspeople. You certainly won’t be bored spending time with the Kyrgyz nomads, who use horses for both transportation and entertainment. One of their most well-known games, kokburu, is basically polo without the plastic balls. Instead, they use a headless goat carcass.
 
Turkmenistan
Location: Southwest of Uzbekistan, north of Iran and Afghanistan.
Population: 4,997,503
Languages: Turkmen, Uzbek (northern), Kurdish (northern), Balochi (western).
Form of Government: For a Soviet republic, Turkmenistan maintained ties to the U.S.S.R. longer than most before becoming independent. In fact, the country’s head Communist leader, Saparmurat Niyazov, stayed on as president after the breakup. Niyazov did promote the building of a unique Turkmen culture, but he also instituted a totalitarian government often compared to that of North Korea’s Kim Jong-il. When Niyazov died in 2006, tension eased a little. However, any political party opposed to current policies is illegal, so leave your Obama “HOPE” T-shirt at home.
What to Eat: Milk products are found everywhere, in the form of yogurt, butter, or even fizzy booze (chal, made with fermented camel’s milk). Defying Islamic custom, a lot of folks eat pork and drink alcohol. In fact, Turkmen wine is gaining a favorable reputation in many elite European circles.
Where to Hang Out: Most of the country is a huge desert with very few roads, so it makes sense that Turkmens think of themselves as horse rather than car people. The nomadic Turkmen have no problems taking tourists out on riding trips and are noted for their hospitality. You may luck out and get to ride an Akhal-Teke. These slim horses originated in Turkmenistan and are a source of national pride. There’s even one on the national emblem.
 
Uzbekistan
Location: South of Kazakhstan.
Population: 28,128,600
Languages: Uzbek (northern), Uzbek.
Form of Government: After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country’s first free elections were accused of being rigged. Then came the threat of Islamic fundamentalist rule. Nowadays, Uzbekistan’s run by a strong presidential body, a judicial branch, and a parliament. The state owns nearly all radio and television transmission facilities and the Internet is heavily monitored.
What to Eat: Uzbeks love their tea (green and black), and they like it piping hot. The traditional dish, plov, closely resembles an Irish stew—rice, meat, chickpeas, and even dried fruit is tossed into a huge cauldron and cooked over a roaring fire. It’s a local joke that the word “plov” also means “foreplay.” Uzbek men often put the best pieces of meat in the plov on Thursday, which also happens to be the most common day for Uzbek babies to be conceived.
Where to Hang Out: If you’re into Islamic history and culture, you’ve hit the jackpot. Mosques dot the entire country, and the shrine Shah-i-Zinda is believed to be the site of the actual grave of Qusam-ibn-Abbas (cousin of the Prophet Muhammad). There’s also a slew of madrassas, Islamic schools of religion. Unfortunately though, some of the more ancient ones have been converted into cheesy shops and theater venues for tourists.
 
Tajikistan
Location: North of Afghanistan, south of Kyrgyzstan.
Population: 7,627,200
Languages: Tajik, Uzbek, Russian, Kyrgyz.
Form of Government: After they split with the Soviet Union, the Tajiks entered into a violent civil war with both secular and Islamic fundamentalist groups fighting to rule. Today’s government is structured in a secular, somewhat Westernized manner, with a popularly elected Supreme Assembly (legislative branch) and president, with the latter picking the judges of the Supreme Court and the prime minister. The country’s political parties are still pretty tense from the war; the first democratic election occurred amidst rumors of corruption.
What to Eat: About 53 percent of all citizens live below the poverty line, which means that food itself can be hard to come by. Naan bread is served with every meal, and it is said that bad luck comes to the diner who flips the naan upside down. The national dish is osh, an oily mix of rice, meat, and thinly sliced carrots.
Where to Hang Out: A very rural nation with only about 26 percent of the population living in metropolitan areas, the real Tajikistan can be found by wandering its many mountainous areas. One popular tourist activity is hiking, and tours are offered in the Fan and Pamir mountains. The latter range is sometimes referred to as the “Roof of the World” and has yet to be fully explored.

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What About the Other -Stans?