Grigoryevskoye gorge
Grigoryevskoye gorge
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At the top of the Grigorievsky Gorge
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Country: | Kyrgyzstan |
Region: | Issyk-Kul region |
Mountain range: | Ala-Too |
Coordinates: | Latitude: 42°45'7.48"N Longitude: 77°28'45.45" |
Length: | ≈ 30 km. |
Waterfall: | Grigorievsky waterfall |
Rating: | |
Thematic Portals
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Grigoryevskoye gorge (Kyrgyz: Chon-Ak-Suu) is a picturesque gorge located in Kyrgyzstan, in the northern part of the Issyk-Kul region, 240 km from the capital city of Bishkek. It is a part of the mountain system of Ala-Too. The gorge got its name from the village of the same name located near the shore of Issyk-Kul.
Gorge geography
The gorge stretches for over 30 km and is located to the east of the central part of the northern coast of Issyk-Kul, 235 km from the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, or 70 km from the regional center of Karakol (average geographic distance in a straight line). The gorge is considered one of the most picturesque places in Issyk-Kul. It is noteworthy that there are three high-mountain lakes in the valley of the gorge: the lower, middle, and upper lakes, the latter being located at an altitude of about 3,500 meters. Above the third lake, the forest begins to give way to beautiful high-mountain meadows. Along the way, there is a 6-meter cascade waterfall.
Excursion route
An excursion route can be made either on foot, starting from the very bottom of the gorge, or by car, as the road is passable enough. If you decide to take a car tour, it is best to do it by jeep, which will allow you to reach the third lake. Along the road, visitors are treated to picturesque views of the local forests, rocks, and the Grigoryevka River. On both sides of the road, there are numerous trails leading to the mountain peaks, which offer stunning views of the gorge valley.
It is also possible to descend to the Bishkek-Issyk-Kul highway through the Semenovskoye gorge.
Photos of the gorge
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View of the gorge from one of the slopes
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On the way to the top of the gorge
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Meadows and forests of the gorge
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View of the river and the eastern slope of the gorge
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Gorge mountains
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Panorama of the gorge
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On the approaches to the first lake
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The first lake of the gorge
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Nature of the Grigorievsky gorge
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Waterfall in Grigoryevskoe Gorge
Author's note
The gorge is very picturesque and beautiful. The elevation change throughout the valley of the gorge is not so sharp, so the hike to the lakes will not be very difficult. When visiting the gorge, bring warm clothes, as the weather, like everywhere in the mountains, can be very contrasting - from warm to cool and rainy.
The only downside is the quality of the road surface along the main stretch of road. Unfortunately, the country's authorities and local governments are not taking any action to ensure a quality road in the gorge, despite tens of thousands of tourists coming here to admire the local scenery, but nothing is being done for comfortable and fast logistics. We hope that in the near future, the authorities will address this issue.
Questions and comments can be posted on the discussion page.