The most picturesque natural landscapes of Kyrgyzstan are dozens of gorges representing valleys with rivers surrounded with high mountains. Numerous runlets are flowing down along these mountains conflowing subsequently into the rivers. The peaks of the mountain ridges are covered with glaciers and their piedmonts – with green coniferous forests.
Among the most famous gorges of Kyrgyzstan are such gorges as Oruu-Sai, Barskaun, Bo’om, Jetti-Oguz, Chon-Kemin, Ala-Archa and Semyenov ones.
The Oruu-Sai gorge is located 30 km from Bishkek at height of 2100 km above sea level. There are juniper forests growing along the hillsides and also many springlets with clean spring water and dozens of waterfalls. The juniper forests of the Oruu-Sai gorge are entered in the Red Book.
Another famous gorge is the Barskaun Gorge. It is situated in the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in river bottom-land. The length of the gorge is nearly 10km. The Barskaun Gorge is famous for its waterfalls. The most distinguished of them is “Leopard Eye-Drops”, there is also the “Aksakal’s (old wise man) Beard” and “Manas’ Bowl”. The legend reads that one day Manas scooped water from the river leaving an impression in a form of a bowl in the rock. The peculiarity of all the rivers and springlets of this gorge is their gold-bearing nature.
The Bo’om Gorge is located on the border of Kirgiz ridge of Ala-To’o and Kungei Ala-To’o. There is the Chu River flowing along it. The gorge is relatively long, its length is 30km. The gorge connects the Chui valley with Issyk-Kul. The upper part of the gorge is covered with vegetation, meanwhile the bottom one represents naked hard-rocks among which a river is flowing. The Bo’om Gorge is crossed by an extension railway and a motorway.
Another picturesque gorge is Jetti-Oguz. Its other name is “Seven Bulls Rocks”. This mountain gorge is located 28km from Karakol city near Lake Issyk-Kul. This interesting name was given to it due to the red color of the rocks, resembling laying bulls on rest. At the height of 2200m in the gorge, there is also “Jetti-Oguz” health resort, where all holiday-makers can enjoy amazing geothermal spring-wells.
On the northern shore of Issyk-Kul in the Kungei Ala-To’o Mountains, there is the Semyenov Gorge which name originates from Semyenov village, located nearby. The Ak-Soou River with length of 30m is flowing along the bottom of the gorge. The Semyenov Gorge like the others features with a unique nature and landscape. There are Tien Shan fir trees and various alpine grasses growing along the hillsides. In summer nomads tents are installed in the gorge and every holiday-maker can live the life of an ordinary Kirghiz nomad, have national meals and ride a horse.
It should also be noted that the State National Park “Chon-Kemin” with its unique representatives of fauna entered in the Red Book is located in the Chon-Kemin Gorge.
Perhaps, the most famous for extreme tourism fans is the Ala-Archa Gorge, which has in its territory the well- known Semyenov-Tien Shan Peak, the highest point of the mountain ridge. At the height of 2000m above sea level there is an alpinist camp in the gorge.
The nature of Kyrgyzstan with its variety and unique combination of all types of landscapes – from steppes to green valleys and alpine glaciers is attracting hundreds of tourists and travelers to the country every year.
