The mountains of Kyrgyzstan are powerful giants who are trying to rise above the sky, breaking the icy tops of white clouds. Tours to these places are very popular among lovers of extreme relaxation, who come here from many countries. On the territory of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan there are two mountain ranges: Tien Shan and Pamir, considered the highest in Asia.
History of the mountains of Kyrgyzstan
The mountains in this area are mentioned in ancient letters and notes of travelers who visited this region with expeditions, all the information about which has been overgrown with many legends over several centuries.
One of the first research studies was conducted by the expedition of P. Semenov in 1856, who made a description and a detailed study of the area, for which he received an honorary addition from the Russian Tsar to the name Semenov-Tyanshansky. He first drew a map of the ridges, examined Lake Issyk-Kul, discovered the Khan-Tengri pyramid and reached the glaciers in the Tengri-Tag group.
To answer the question about which mountains in Kyrgyzstan, you need to see them with your own eyes. The mountain ranges here have an alpine relief, which is characterized by numerous mountain ridges and high sharp peaks, less frequent more even areas of ancient origin, usually tilted in one direction due to folding.
In the highlands there are many glaciers and screes, all mountains more than 3,500 m high are rocks frozen to a depth of 30-100 m, peaks are covered with snow, the snow line runs at an altitude of up to 3800-4200 m, some areas are considered dangerous because of avalanches .
Tien Shan mountains
Translated from Chinese, they are called "Heavenly Mountains", which stretch in the west-east direction and consist of 88 ranges. The Tien Shan Range is the mountains of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, it is rightfully considered the longest in Asia (2800 km). In its center are the highest mountains: Victory Peak (7440 m) and Khan Tengri Peak (almost 7000 m), there are also 40 more peaks with a height of more than 6 thousand m.
Most of the ridge is located on the territory of Kyrgyzstan and is divided into 6 zones of the alpine type. The republic consists of mountains for 92%, the ranges divide it into the northern and southern parts, connected by a highway between the cities of Bishkek and Osh. The average length of the ranges is 100-300 km, and the width reaches 40 km. Climatic zones are represented by almost everything, from taiga and rocky tundra to alpine meadows, where pastures are located in the southern part of the mountains.
The mountain ranges of Kyrgyzstan are constantly used by climbers and nature lovers to climb mountain peaks, horseback riding, rafting on mountain rivers, starting from the times of the Soviet Union. Even then, the beauty of this region, despite the great remoteness from civilization and the high complexity of routes, became popular among all tourists and climbers.
Valleys and lakes
There are many high mountain valleys in the Tien Shan, which are used for fertile pastures, as covered in grass. At the foot of the ridges, there were strips of alpine depressions that turned into lakes and swamps, the most famous of which is Issyk-Kul.
According to researchers, the Tien Shan mountains were covered with very powerful glaciers during the glaciation era, the remains of which are found in the form of ramparts, moraines, circuses and lakes. All rivers of Kyrgyzstan originate from these places.
The mountains of Kyrgyzstan are especially beautiful in the spring in May, when all the valleys are covered with flowers: yellow and red tulips, edelweiss, etc. Flowers in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan look unusual against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
Issyk-Kul Lake - the pearl of the Tien Shan, occupying a deep depression (702 m) between the mountain ranges, is the third deepest body of water in the CIS.
Pamir Mountains
Another massif of the high mountains of Kyrgyzstan, represented only by its northern part, is the Pamir. The most famous ranges here are: Zaalaysky and Turkestan, the average height is 5.5 thousand m, and the highest peak of the Pamirs is Lenin peak (7134 m).
Pamir is the greatest mountain system in the world, located on the territory of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and China. Here the continental climate is less humid compared to the Tien Shan and more sunny. The Zaalai ridge has a length of 200 km in the territory of Kyrgyzstan and continues for another 50 km in China, has sharp peaks, and even deciduous shrubs grow in the valleys. The highest peak of the Zaalai Range is Sat peak (5900 m).
Mountains in Kyrgyzstan: name of the peaks and description
The highest mountain peaks of Kyrgyzstan regularly visited by climbers:
- Victory Peak - the northernmost of the 7-thousanders, was first discovered in 1938, has a height of 7439 m, is located on the border with China in the Kokshaal-Too ridge near Issyk-Kul Lake. Climbers call it the most formidable and inaccessible, because Only highly qualified athletes with good training can conquer it. The difficulty of climbing it is determined by the harsh climate, sharp gusts of the north wind, the steepness of the slopes in combination with severe cold. This peak was first seen visually by the climbers of the Khan-Tengri peak in 1936, who, 2 years later, led by L. Gutman, put together an expedition to examine the open peak and were able to conquer it.
- Khan-Tengri peak, which is translated from the Turkic language as “Lord of the sky,” does not reach a height of 7 thousandth only 5 m, however, it is ranked among them in complexity. When climbing to this peak, climbers adhere to an interesting ritual: each newly arrived group digs up the capsule laid down by the previous one with information about the climber (last name, date), then writes his own and again buries. Locals gave the peak another name, "Kan-Too" ("Bloody Mountain") for the large number of accidents that occur with daredevils ascending to it. The peak is also famous for its picturesque views.
- Lenin Peak is the most visited in the Pamirs, because climbing it is quite simple and does not have strict health requirements for climbers. As a rule, all tourists get to the base camp by car from the city of Osh.
Mountain peaks that are slightly lower than the seven-thousandths in height:
- Peaks Chapaev (6370 m), Przhevalsky (6450 m), Marble Wall (6400 m) and Tent (6700 m) are located in the central part of the Tien Shan.
- Peaks Karakol (5216 m), Nansen (5697 m), Pyramid (5621 m), etc.
Glaciers of the mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan
There are many glaciers in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan:
- The Korzhenevsky Glacier is located in a valley on the northern slope of the Zaalaysky ridge, 21.5 km long.
- The Lenin Glacier - a mountain type in a basin in the northern part of the same ridge, 13.5 km long, lies at the foot of Lenin peak.
- Mushketov Glacier - refers to a tree type, located in the center of the Tien Shan, on the northern slope of Sarydzhaz, 20.5 km long and others.
Mountain passes
To get from one valley to another, you must use the mountain passes, in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan there are several:
- Bedel - located in the Tien Shan mountains, passes through the Kokshaaltau ridge on the border between China and Kyrgyzstan, height is 4284 m, entered the Great Silk Road for many years and was a famous caravan road.
- Kyzyl-Art - the road located on the Pamir Highway passes through the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the height is 4280 m, in the northern part there is a gentle and picturesque climb, from the southern part it goes down to the river valley. To Marcans.
- Taldyk - pass connects the river valley from the north. Gyulchi and Alayskub - a valley in the south, located in the Alai ridge, height 3615 m. A highway is laid through it, through which you can get to Osh, on the other hand - the village of Sary-Tash.
The sacred mountain of Suleiman
The city of Osh is considered the southern capital of Kyrgyzstan. In 2009, the city was replenished with another attraction - the sacred mountain Suleiman-Too (Suleiman's throne), which was recognized as a World Heritage Site.
Its history spans more than one century, and all this time it is famous as a place of sacred significance, which is also confirmed by petroglyphs on the mountain. Muslims still believe that this sanctuary has magical meaning, giving those who come here asking, well-being, health, posterity and everything that pilgrims ask for.
Suleiman Mountain in the city of Osh in Kyrgyzstan has a length of almost 1 km and a height of 1110 m. Tourists and pilgrims can go along the paths to the mountain (for a small fee) and admire the neighboring peaks and view of the city below it.
On Suleiman-Too there are cult places, each with its own meaning:
- The Sirat Bridge - according to legend, is the road to the underworld, on which only a person who has no sins can pass.
- Ene-Beshik - a hole 2 m wide, which affects the fertility of the female half of humanity.
- Tamchy-Tamar is a hole that goes 8 meters deep, helping to cure infertility and eye diseases.
- Kol-Tash - a hole from karst rocks, treats diseases in the joints.
- Bel-Tash is a 3-meter-long plate, in the middle there is a gutter, to cure back diseases, it is necessary to drive at least 3 times, which is successfully done by children and the elderly.
- Bash-Tash - a hole near the trail, according to popular belief, treats for headaches.
At the top of Suleiman-Too is the chapel "House of Babur", built in the 15th century and restored by local residents in 1989, a museum with local exhibits is built inside the mountain.
What attract mountains of tourists
Kyrgyzstan is a country in Central Asia that attracts tourists with its fabulous and beautiful mountains, rich history, unusual culture and interesting traditions. It is considered a mountain paradise for climbers, climbers and travel enthusiasts: there are many peaks that climbers seek to conquer to get the title of “Snow Leopard”, here in winter and summer skiers can train, tourists and lovers of extreme relaxation can go hiking and downhill rivers. .
The mountains of Kyrgyzstan are the land of glaciers and snow-covered fields and peaks, stormy rivers, blue lakes, many charming alpine meadows with bright colors and fragrant herbs, a variety of plants and animals.