Strange Harvest in a Central Asian River Valley

A Central Asian river runs through our Geo Quiz: We’re looking for a 600 mile long river that starts in western China and flows through part of Central Asia. One stretch of the river actually forms the border between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Along their shared border, there’s a lush river valley — where marijuana grows wild. In the old days, Soviet authorities tried to wipe out the plants but to no avail. And the locals have developed a rather unique way of harvesting the stuff.

Think people who wash themselves in the river, clean their horses and then ride naked into a forest of marijuana!

Can you name the Central Asian river where this is going on?

The answer is the Chu or Chuy River.

Radio Free Europe reporter Merkhat Sharipzhanov tells anchor Marco Werman about the wild marijuana harvest in the Chu River valley.