Mountains,
mountains, mountainsThe lasting image of Kyrgyzstan's landscape is usually defined by its mountains. You will find steep, lush valleys covered with Tien Shan firs and hot springs in some areas. Others may contain marshland next to 10,000-foot-high lakes. Glaciers feed into topaz-blue waters that careen down waterfalls. Most commonly, you'll see mountains that are relatively barren, given Kyrgyzstan's location in the center of the Asian landmass, with green only peeking through in the springtime and early summer.
For Americans, much of the enjoyment in exploring these mountains is the solitude that is rare in the continental U.S., broken only by the occasional shepherd or herd of horses in the distance. Alpinists from other parts of the Soviet Union were once prominent in Kyrgyzstan, but the decline in state funds for trail maintenance means that most footpaths are now untended. Take this in mind if you head off the beaten path.
Really
high mountainsThe highest peaks in Kyrgyzstan are for expeditions only. Pik Pobedi and Khan Tengri are both in the northeastern corner of the country, well off of any real road system. Almost every attempt to summit these 7000-meter peaks starts with a helicopter ride to Engilchek Glacier.
Pik Lenina, a third peak in the 7000-meter class, lies along the southern border with Tajikistan. Note that there may be security issues associated with climbing in southern part of the country, as several American rock climbers were taken hostage for several days in 2000; there have been other instances of hostage-taking and skirmishes south of Osh. See the U.S. State Department for more information.
The
capital city will be the starting and exit point for the majority of those
visiting the country. Estimates of its population vary between 500,000 and
1 million, and it has changed rapidly since Kyrgyzstan's independence. It
now has a number of internet cafes and swank restaurants geared toward foreign
ex-patriots, "connected" Kyrgyz citizens, and the growing educated
middle-class.
The U.S. currently operates an airbase adjacent to the Manas international airport north of the city.
"Have you seen our lake?" is one of the most common questions that English-speaking Kyrgyzstani natives ask Americans. There's good reason for this. Issyk-Kul is one of the largest (40 x 100 miles) and deepest (1800 feet) alpine lakes in the world, and it is also entirely ringed by 15,000-foot+ mountains. The visual effect of standing on the shore of the lake is that of an inland sea; snow-capped mountains stretch from horizon to horizon as you stare out to the opposite shore, with seagulls making an occasional appearance.
Coming soon...
Many visitors ask if they can enter China from Kyrgyzstan because they share a common border. The short answer is "yes...if you have a lot of money and time." There are complications with going over a 12,000-foot-high formerly-militarized border with no facilities of any kind nearby. This crossing, the Torugart Pass, is most commonly available through a local travel company and is well-documented in guide books.
