Observing Flora

Situated at an altitude of 3929 meters, this high mountain pass stands as a silent sentinel between the Gorge of Kichi Kyzyl Suu and the Jukutchak Gorge. This natural spectacle offers a panoramic canvas of the surrounding peaks and valleys.

To the north, the pass opens up to a breathtaking view of the 5000 towering peaks of Karakol and Oguz Bashi, their snow-capped majesty dominating the horizon. The air is crisp, and the panorama stretches to capture the rugged grandeur of It-Tish Peak (4808 m) on the western front, overseeing the vast expanse of the Juku Valley below.

Karatal-Zhapyryk reserve was organized in 1994 in the Naryn region in order to preserve unique natural resources, as well as rare species of animals and plants. According to the classification of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the reserve is assigned category I - strict nature reserve.

Kalmak-Ashuu Pass is located on the shortest access between Kochkor and Song Kul Lake. The pass is opened by a snow-blower at the end of May. and will close when the first snowfall falls in late October. But the nomads who wait each year for the pass to open will leave well before it closes. It is said that the pass is named "Kalmak" because it is from this pass that Kalmyk soldiers once attacked Kyrgyz on the Song Kul meadows.

Nestled in the western Tien Shan mountains, the Besh-Aral Nature Reserve is one of Kyrgyzstan’s most ecologically rich and scenically dramatic protected areas. Stretching from 1,000 to over 4,000 meters above sea level, it offers a remarkable diversity of landscapes—from dry foothill steppes and dense coniferous forests to alpine meadows and rocky snow-capped peaks. This altitudinal range supports more than 15 distinct ecosystems, and the reserve plays a key role in protecting the headwaters of the Chatkal River, a lifeline for both Kyrgyz and Uzbek communities downstream.