Natural Resources in 1917-1991

Kyrgyzstan is rich in natural resources, with rare metal deposits of gold and sulfur-containing ores in its subsoil. The Jetim Basin contains sedimentary iron ores, with reserves of about 10 billion tons. The Southern Tien Shan has deposits of mercury, antimony, tin, and polymetals. In the Fergana Valley, oil and gas extraction is underway. In terms of geological coal reserves (31 billion tons), Kyrgyzstan ranks first in Central Asia. There are deposits of salt, gypsum, glass sands, construction materials, as well as significant reserves of fresh groundwater. Based on thermal and mineral springs, resorts operate in: Issyk-Ata, Jalal-Abad, Jety-Oguz, and Jergalan, producing medicinal and table mineral water.

Mountain rivers belong to the basins of the Aral Sea (76.5%), Lake Issyk-Kul (10.8%), and Balkhash (0.3%). The average annual runoff of all rivers is 52 km² (3% of the total runoff in the USSR). The rivers have significant energy and irrigation value, being used for irrigating the fields of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. There are about 3,000 lakes in Kyrgyzstan, the largest of which are Issyk-Kul, Son-Kul, Chatyr-Kul, and Sary-Chelek. Lake Issyk-Kul is one of the greatest high-altitude lakes in the world.