Kyrgyz Nature

Nature of Kyrgyzstan

Due to its unusual topography the country is divided into the northern and southern parts. In the north of the country, there are two big valleys named the Chui-valley (the capital Bishkek located there), and the Talas-valley. There also located the lake Issyk-Kul called "Blue Pearl of the Tien-Shan".

 To the south of those big valleys is the heart of Mountain massif. The word "Tien-Shan" from Chinese is translated as "Heavenly / Celestial Mountains". The highest peaks of it take place in the triangle of Kyrgyzstan, China and Kazakhstan: The Peak Pobedy (Peak Victory) with an altitude of 7439 m and the Khan-Tengri with 6995 m above sea level. Peak Pobedy is also the most northern peak located 7000m-high mountain in the world. Also in this high-altitude mountain area takes place the famous glacier Enylchek and the mysterious Lake Merzbacher, that fades away once a year, but then refills completely. For many years scientists and explorers wondered whether it is exists at all - some of them mentioned it on their maps and in their descriptions, some did not - depending on season and the level of water. Usually exploring of this territory starts from the town of Karakol at the eastern end of Lake Issyk-Kul.

The Tien-Shan mountain range is a very diverse area and can offer all types of landscapes one could imagine: low situated valleys with woods, sandy and rocky mountains, green and fertile high-altitude pastures and rocky and snow-topped high-altitude mountain regions, and those amazing mountain lakes. Beside the most celebrated lake Issyk-Kul, which is used mainly for beach-holidays, the regions of lake Son-Kul at an altitude of about 3000m, and lake Sary-Chelek at about 1900 m above sea level should be mentioned as well (see also List of main touristic places / Son-Kul; Sary-Chelek)

The great mountainous range is not only popular for its landscapes, it also very much visited because of its fauna: rare animals like the Marco-Polo sheep and the snow leopard still live in the area, and birds such as eagles, falcons and vulture are very common here, you could also watch seagulls at an altitude of 3000m and find rare species everywhere around the country.

In the south-west, the Tien-Shan Mountains are divided into two parts and there is the Ferghana-valley embed in their middle. The biggest part of this lowland is located in Uzbekistan, but the east borders also reach Kyrgyz territory. It is basically famous for its fertility and rich, juicy and fresh choice of fruits and vegetables. In this part of Kyrgyzstan naturally, population is quite dense, and also here situated the second-biggest town of the country Osh, with population about 300.000 inhabitants.

The guests can find a peaceful atmosphere in the countryside with many fields full of sunflowers, an abundance of oriental culinary singularities.

At the far south of the country the Pamir mountain range finds the borders with Tadjikistan and China. There is another high peak named Peak Lenin (7134m), which is renowned among mountaineers from all over the world, because of its technically not too demanding ascent.

All in all, mostly mountainous landscape, that offers something special for everyone!

Kyrgyzstan Travel industry has been steadily developing, including high quality hotels in big cities including Bishkek and Osh. Travel to Kyrgyzstan, with its virgin nature, will make your trip memorable.