Karakol, formerly Przhevalsk, is the fourth-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, near the eastern tip of Lake Issyk-Kul, about 150 kilometres (93 mi) from the Kyrgyzstan–China border and 380 kilometres (240 mi) from the capital Bishkek. It is the administrative capital of Issyk-Kul Region. Its area is 44 square kilometres (17 sq mi), and its resident population was 84,351 in 2021. To the north, on highway A363, is Tüp, and to the southwest Jeti-Ögüz resort.
Issyk-Kul is an endorheic saline lake in the western Tianshan Mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan, just south of a dividing range separating Kyrgyzstan from Kazakhstan. It is the seventh-deepest lake in the world, the tenth-largest lake in the world by volume and the third-largest saline lake. Issyk-Kul means "warm lake" in the Kyrgyz language; although it is located at a lofty elevation of 1,607 metres (5,272 ft) and subject to severe cold during winter, it rarely freezes, due to the salinity.
Balykchy is a town at the western end of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, at an elevation of about 1,900 metres. Its area is 38 square kilometres (15 sq mi), and its resident population was 42,875 in 2021. A major industrial and transport centre during the Soviet era, it lost most of its economic base after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the closure of virtually all of its industrial facilities.
Naryn Region is the largest region (oblus) of Kyrgyzstan. It is located in the east of the country and borders with Chüy Region in the north, Issyk-Kul Region in the northeast, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China in the southeast, Osh Region in the southwest, and Jalal-Abad Region in the west. Its capital is Naryn. Its total area is 44,160 km2 (17,050 sq mi). The resident population of the region was 292,140 as of January 2021.
Issyk-Kul Region is one of the regions of Kyrgyzstan. Its capital is Karakol. It is surrounded by Almaty Region, Kazakhstan (north), Chüy Region (west), Naryn Region (southwest) and Xinjiang, China (southeast). It takes its name from Lake Issyk-Kul, the world's second-largest high altitude lake. Its total area is 43,735 km2 (16,886 sq mi). The resident population of the region was 501,933 as of January 2021. The region has a sizeable Russian minority.
Kyzyl-Suu is a village in the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. About 10km inland from Lake Issyk Kul on the A363 highway between Jeti-Ögüz resort and Barskoon, it is the capital of Jeti-Ögüz District. Its population was 15,075 in 2021.
Tamchy is a village in the Issyk-Kul District of the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. Its population was 2,412 in 2021.
Tüp or Tyup is a large village in the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan, and the center of the Tüp District. It was established as village Preobrazhenskoye in 1870. Its population was 12,355 in 2021. Tüp is a road junction town at the northeast corner of Lake Issyk Kul. To the west on A363 is Anan'yevo and to the south Karakol. To the east, A362 leads up the Karkara valley to Kazakhstan.
Kosh-Köl is a village in the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. The village name has also been transliterated as Kosh-Kël' or Kosh-Kel'. It is part of the Issyk-Kul District. Its population was 588 in 2021.
Bökönbaev is a village in the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is the seat of the Tong District and of the Kün-Chygysh village community. It was established as Kol'tsovka village in 1912. With a population of 14,267 (2021), it is the largest village on the south shore of lake Issyk Kul. Its industry has decayed since Soviet times. It is now a base for tourism into the mountains to the south. There are demonstrations of falconry with eagles. The road to the west to Balykchy goes through dry and less-attractive country.
Anan'yevo is a village in the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is part of the Issyk-Kul District. Its population was 9,362 in 2021. Located on highway A363 on the north shore of Lake Issyk Kul, the next town to the west is Semyonovka, and to the east, Tüp. It was founded in 1871 as Sazonovka settlement and there is still a significant Russian population. In 1942, the village was renamed after one of the Panfilov's Twenty-Eight Guardsmen - Nikolay Yakovlevich Anan'yev, who was born in Sazonovka in 1912. There are a church and a mosque in the village.
Jyrgalang is a village in the Ak-Suu District of Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is located at the right bank of the river Jyrgalang. It was established in 1964 to support operation of a coal mine Jyrgalan. Its population was 1,033 in 2021. Until 2012 it was an urban-type settlement. In recent years numerous residents have moved to Karakol in search of economic opportunities. The coal mine is still operating, albeit at relatively low levels. Since 2013 the village has seen some investments into guest house development including the reconstruction of an existing house into a six-room guest house and construction of a three-story guest house. Several other homes were renovated in 2016 to serve as guest houses for back-country skiers and hikers.
Kochkor is a large village in northern Naryn Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is the administrative centre of Kochkor District. The village was established in 1909 as Stolypino and renamed to Kochkor in 1917. Altitude 1,800 m. Its population was 11,373 in 2021. It is on the main A365 highway from Torugart Pass (China) north to Bishkek. About 7 km west A367 branches west toward Jalal-Abad Region and the Ferghana Valley. About 25 km northeast along the highway is the Orto-Tokoy reservoir and about 45 km northeast is Balykchy on Lake Issyk-Kul. The village is a base for excursions into the high country and tourist infrastructure is fairly well developed. There is a regional museum.
Ak-Suu is a district of Issyk-Kul Region in eastern Kyrgyzstan. The administrative center lies at the village Teploklyuchenka. Its area is 9,917 square kilometres (3,829 sq mi), and its resident population was 69,439 in 2021.
Jeti-Ögüz is a district of Issyk-Kul Region in north-eastern Kyrgyzstan. Its seat lies at Kyzyl-Suu. Its area is 14,499 square kilometres (5,598 sq mi), and its resident population was 93,392 in 2021. It comprises much of the eastern end of the Terskey Ala-Too Range.
Jeti-Ögüz is a balneotherapic resort located at the Jeti-Ögüz Rocks near Issyk Kul in the Jeti-Ögüz District of Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan, about 28 km west of Karakol, and near Jeti-Ögüz village. Its population was 337 in 2021.
Kajy-Say is a village in Tong District in Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. It was established in regard with development of Segety deposit of brown coal in 1947. Its population was 4,612 in 2021. Until 2012 it was an urban-type settlement.
Ak-Bulak is a village in the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is part of the Tüp District. Its population was 1,184 in 2021. Until 2012 it was an urban-type settlement.
Saruu is a village in Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is part of the Jeti-Ögüz District. Its population was 8,217 in 2021. It lies near the outflow of the river Juuku into Lake Issyk-Kul.
Darkan is a village in Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is part of the Jeti-Ögüz District. Its population was 7,208 in 2021. It lies near the outflow of the river Juuku into Lake Issyk-Kul.
