Where to Go in Kyrgyzstan: Best Natural Locations

Kyrgyzstan is a country located in Central Asia, bordering Kazakhstan to the north, China to the southeast, Uzbekistan to the west, and Tajikistan to the south.

The climate is predominantly sharply continental. The country is characterized by a mountainous landscape, with approximately 80-85% of its territory occupied by mountains, which average a height of around 3500 meters. Kyrgyzstan enjoys about 250 sunny days per year, with average temperatures exceeding 30-35°C in summer, and falling below 0°C in winter. This climate and geographic location attract tourists from various countries, especially those who prefer active outdoor recreation.

This overview provides information about places of interest for tourists planning to visit the country.

Places to Visit

Thanks to its unique mountainous landscape, climate, and geographic location, Kyrgyzstan is home to many scenic spots that attract tourists from all over the world. More than 90% of the country's territory is occupied by the mountain ranges of the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai, with over 200 gorges. These natural formations create stunning landscapes with rushing rivers, waterfalls, alpine meadows, and snow-capped peaks.

Below is information about the most popular gorges, waterfalls, and lakes that should be visited during a trip to Kyrgyzstan.

Gorges

Kyrgyzstan is famous for its beautiful gorges, each of which has a unique natural appearance. They are formed by mountain ridges and often include glaciers, dense coniferous forests, and rushing mountain rivers. There are more than 200 major gorges in the country, many of which have become popular destinations for tourism, mountaineering, and outdoor activities.

• Most Popular Gorges of Kyrgyzstan
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  Ala-Archa Gorge - Nearest city: Bishkek
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  Jeti-Oguz Gorge - Nearest city: Karakol
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  Turgen-Aksu Gorge - Nearest city: Karakol
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  Sary-Jaz Gorge - Nearest city: Karakol
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  Kegety Gorge - Nearest city: Tokmak
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  Dzhukuu Gorge - Nearest city: Karakol
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  Shamsi Gorge - Nearest city: Bishkek
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  Grigorev Gorge - Nearest city: Cholpon-Ata

• List of Gorges of Kyrgyzstan.

Canyons

The canyons of Kyrgyzstan were formed by water and wind erosion, as well as tectonic processes that took place over millions of years. They are deep gorges with steep slopes and whimsical rock formations. The country has dozens of canyons, the most famous of which are the Skazka, Konorchek, and Jeti-Oguz canyons.

• Most Famous Canyons of Kyrgyzstan
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  Kok-Moynok Canyons in the Boom Gorge
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  Mars Canyons on Issyk-Kul
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  Skazka Canyons on Issyk-Kul
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  Ak-Sai Canyons on Issyk-Kul
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  Canyons of Jeti-Oguz Gorge

List of Canyons of Kyrgyzstan

Waterfalls

Kyrgyzstan, being a mountainous country, is rich in scenic waterfalls. They are formed by melting glaciers and rushing mountain rivers, many of which reach heights of several tens of meters. There are more than 30 major waterfalls in the country and many seasonal ones that appear during the melting of snow and glaciers. Here are some of them:

• Most Famous Waterfalls of Kyrgyzstan
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  Ak-Say Waterfall - Height: 20 meters, Altitude: 2860 meters
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  Maiden's Hair Waterfall - Height: 25 meters, Altitude: 2460 meters
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  Kegety Waterfall - Height: 50 meters, Altitude: 1880 meters
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  Alamedin Waterfall - Height: 10 meters, Altitude: 2123 meters
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  Barskoon Waterfalls in the same-named gorge.

• List of Waterfalls of Kyrgyzstan

Lakes

Kyrgyzstan is rich in lakes, most of which are of glacial or tectonic origin. There are more than 2000 lakes in the country, located at varying altitudes — from lowland to high-altitude. Among them, the largest bodies of water are Issyk-Kul, Son-Kul, and Sary-Chelek.

• Most Famous Lakes of Kyrgyzstan
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  Issyk-Kul - Surface area: 6236 km², Shoreline length: 450 km, Altitude: 1603 meters
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  Kara-Suu - Surface area: 4.2 km², Shoreline length: 16.5 km, Altitude: 2006 meters
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  Sonk-Kul - Surface area: 278 km², Shoreline length: 82 km, Altitude: 3016 meters
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  Sary-Chelek - Surface area: 4.92 km², Shoreline length: 18 km, Altitude: 1940 meters

• List of Lakes of Kyrgyzstan

Author's Note

Kyrgyzstan is an amazing country with a rich natural heritage, including mountain ranges, scenic gorges, waterfalls, lakes, and canyons. These unique landscapes make it an ideal place for eco-tourism, outdoor recreation, and scientific research. I hope this overview helps you better understand the country's natural landmarks and choose the places to visit.

If you have any questions, clarifications, or suggestions on the topic, we would be happy to see your registration on the website and discuss all the details on the discussion page. Your additions and travel experiences can be useful to other readers and help make the article even more informative and up-to-date.