Transport in Kyrgyzstan is severely constrained by the country's alpine topography. Roads have to snake up steep valleys, cross passes of 3,000 m (9,843 ft) altitude and more, and are subject to frequent mud slides and snow avalanches. Winter travel is close to impossible in many of the more remote and high-altitude regions. Additional problems are because many roads and railway lines built during the Soviet period are today intersected by international boundaries, requiring time-consuming border formalities to cross where they are not completely closed. The horse is still a much used transport option, especially in rural and inaccessible areas, as it does not depend on imported fuel.
Issyk-Kul or Ysyk-Köl is an endorheic saline lake in the western Tian Shan Mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan, just south of a dividing range separating Kyrgyzstan from Kazakhstan. It is the eighth-deepest lake in the world, the eleventh-largest lake in the world by volume, the deepest lake whose deepest point is above sea level, 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 over due to high 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.
Chüy Region is the northernmost region of Kyrgyzstan, surrounding the country's national capital of Bishkek. It is bounded on the north by Kazakhstan, and clockwise, Issyk-Kul Region, Naryn Region, Jalal-Abad Region, and Talas Region. Its administrative center is Bishkek. Its total area is 19,895 km2 (7,682 sq mi). The resident population of the region was 974,984 as of January 2021. The region has sizeable Russian and Dungan minorities. It takes its name from the river Chüy, that flows through the region.
Naryn Region is the largest region 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.
The Ysyk-Köl Region is one of the regions of Kyrgyzstan. Its capital is Karakol. It is surrounded by Almaty Region, Kazakhstan to the north, Chüy Region to the west, Naryn Region to the southwest, and Xinjiang, China to the 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.
Cholpon-Ata is a resort town on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan with a population of 14,237 (2021). It is the administrative center of the Issyk-Kul District of Issyk-Kul Region; this district occupies most of the lake's north shore. To the west along highway A363 is Tamchy and to the east, Bosteri.
Chatyr-Köl is an endorheic alpine lake in the Tian Shan mountains in At-Bashy District of Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan; it lies in the lower part of Chatyr-Köl Depression near the Torugart Pass border crossing into China. The name of the lake means “Celestial Lake” in Kyrgyz.
Song-Köl is an alpine lake in northern Naryn Region, Kyrgyzstan. It lies at an altitude of 3016 m, and has an area of about 270 km2 and volume of 2.64 km3. The lake's maximum length is 29 km, breadth about 18 km at its widest, and the deepest point is 13.2 m. It is the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan after Issyk-Kul, and the largest fresh water lake in the country.
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.
Chok-Tal is a village in the Issyk-Kul District of the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. Its population was 1,910 in 2021. It is located on the northern shore of Lake Issyk Kul between Tamchy and Cholpon Ata.
Bökönbai 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.
Bosteri is a village in the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is part of the Issyk-Kul District. Its population was 8,908 in 2021. The town is entirely devoted to mass tourism. There are soviet-era hotels and sanitoria. To the west along highway A363 is Cholpon-Ata, and to the east Korumdu.
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.
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.
Tong is a district of Issyk-Kul Region in north-eastern Kyrgyzstan. The seat lies at Bökönbaev. Its area is 7,230 square kilometres (2,790 sq mi), and its resident population was 53,401 in 2021. Tong District borders Issyk-Kul District to the north-west, Jeti-Ögüz District to the south and south-east, Kochkor District to the south-west, Naryn District to the south, Kemin District to the north-west, and Issyk Kul - to the north.
Tüp is a district of Issyk-Kul Region in north-eastern Kyrgyzstan. The seat lies at Tüp. Its area is 2,121 square kilometres (819 sq mi), and its resident population was 65,169 in 2021. It borders Issyk-Kul District to the west, Ak-Suu District to the east and south-east, Kazakhstan to the north, and Issyk Kul to the south.
Issyk-Kul District is a district of Issyk-Kul Region in north-eastern Kyrgyzstan. The seat lies at Cholpon-Ata. Its area is 3,603 square kilometres (1,391 sq mi), and its resident population was 84,876 in 2021.
Issyk-Kul International Airport is an international airport near Tamchy, a village in Issyk Kul District of Issyk Kul Region (oblast) of Kyrgyzstan. The Russian IATA code for Issyk-Kul International Airport is ИКУ.
Cholpon-Ata Airport is an airport serving the resort town of Cholpon-Ata in the Issyk Kul Province (oblast) of Kyrgyzstan. The Russian IATA code for Cholpon-Ata Airport is ЧЛА.
