Kyrgyzstan Mountain Tour - Minzifatravel.com

Kyrgyzstan is one of those countries where majority of the area is covered with mountain ranges. In case of Kyrgyzstan, it is 90%. Worth a mention is the fact that 41% of the country is located above an elevation of 3,000 meters, highest being 7,439 meters. The mountains are both rough and rocky, but at some places are heavenly lush and green, characterizing the environment of an oasis. Whether you want to trek, going for a mountain walking, raft in the rivers, spend your night in camps, or simple sit and relax, the mountains of Kyrgyzstan will always welcome you with their arms wide open.

Kyrgyzstan In Brief

The region of modern day Kyrgyzstan was first inhabited 2,000 years back. The ancient Kyrgyzs were known as Yenisei Kirghiz who lived in central Siberian region near Yenisey River. The region then became a part of the Kushan Empire founded by Chinese nomadic pastoralists known as Yuezhi. The first Turkic state to have been established in here was by the G’kt’rks in 552 AD. The Uyghur Empire emerged out of it which ruled the region from 740 to 840 AD. Then it fell under the Mongol Empire after the Mongol invasion of Central Asia. Various Khanates that succeeded the Mongols like the Turkic Golden Horde, Chagatai Khanate, and Oirats later regulated the region. It then became part of the Russian Empire and remained a part of it for over a century. It was named as Kirghiz SSR, and it was during this time that Kyrgyzstan was urbanized and developed.

Geography Of Kyrgyzstan

The topography of Kyrgyzstan is characterized by mountains, and almost 80% of the country’s area is covered with it. Tien Shan Mountains and Pamir Mountains form the lion share, and there are over 88 major mountain ranges. Majority of the part of Tien Shan lies in Kyrgyzstan. The central part of it where Lake Issyk Kul is located accommodates the peak of Khan Tengri and Podeba, both above 7,000 meters. There are close to 15 to 20 virgin peaks which have never been summited before. Mountaineering and trekking are major adventure sports enjoyed by tourists. While some of the peaks are easy to climb, others can be notoriously difficult.

There are around 1,928 mountain lakes in total in the located in the mountains which just add on to the beauty of it. issyk-Kul which is the second largest saline lake in the world with an area of 6,236 sq km is located in the northern Tien Shan mountains, eastern side of the country. Despite being surrounded by snow capped peaks, the lake never freezes. Other noteworthy lakes are Song Kol, Sary Chelek, Ala Kul, and Lake Merzbacher. From these mountains, several streams and rivers emerge, but surprisingly none of them run long enough to meet the sea, rather they flow into a closed drainage system. Naryn River is the largest river in the country originating from the mountains.