Issyk Kul Province

Issyk Kul Province (Kyrgyz: Ысык-Көл областы) is a province (oblast) of Kyrgyzstan. Its capital is Karakol. It is surrounded by Almaty Province, Kazakhstan( north), Chui Province (west), Naryn Province (southwest) and Xinjiang, China (southeast). The north is dominated by the eye-shaped Lake Issyk Kul, surrounded by the ridges of the Tian Shan mountain system: the Kungey Alatau mountains to the north and the Terskey Alatau to the south (the 'sunn... more

Issyk Kul Province (Kyrgyz: Ысык-Көл областы) is a province (oblast) of Kyrgyzstan. Its capital is Karakol. It is surrounded by Almaty Province, Kazakhstan( north), Chui Province (west), Naryn Province (southwest) and Xinjiang, China (southeast). The north is dominated by the eye-shaped Lake Issyk Kul, surrounded by the ridges of the Tian Shan mountain system: the Kungey Alatau mountains to the north and the Terskey Alatau to the south (the 'sunny' and 'shady' Alatau, respectively). To the south is mountains and 'jailoos' (mountain meadows used for summer grazing). The highest peaks of the Tian Shan mountains, including Khan Tengri, are located in the easternmost part of the province. Most of the population of the province lives around the lake, in particular in the cities of Balykchy near the lake's western end, and Karakol near its eastern end. The railroad coming from the northwest (from Bishkek) ends at Balykchy. The main highway (A365) from Bishkek passes through Balykchy and... less