Fergana Ridge
A mountain range in the Tien Shan that stretches from southeast to northwest, separating the cold high-altitude plateaus of central Tien Shan from the scorching plains of the Fergana Valley. The length of the ridge is 225 km. Its width is 62 km. The average height (above sea level) is 3620 m. The highest peak, Kara-Kuldja (Uch-Seyit), reaches 4940 m. In the southeastern part, there are about 400 glaciers with a total area of about 195 km².
The area in the southern part of the Fergana Ridge lies at the junction of the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai. From this area, it is not far to both the end of the Alai Ridge and the end of the Kokshaal-Tuu Ridge.
The area is composed of metamorphic rocks – slates and sandstones. In the part of the ridge that we managed to visit, black slates dominate. Generally, they easily crumble under pressure (sometimes the stone crumbles when stepped on). Working on rocks made of such material is very difficult due to their low reliability and high friability.
An interesting effect of "black rivers" can also be observed — the ground-up slates from glaciers give the water a dark opaque color, especially noticeable in the afternoon.
It is frightening to cross such rivers (as the bottom is not visible), and one does not want to drink such water at all.
From a sports perspective, the area is interesting due to the variety of snow and ice relief.
Broken glaciers and icefalls, unlike the relatively nearby Kichik-Alai, which has similar elevations, are not an exception here but rather the rule.
There are many saddles with significant elevation changes: 400, 600, and even 800 m of pass ascent are not uncommon here.
The rocks in the area are usually heavily eroded and do not inspire confidence for movement and protection.
The valley floors are generally composed of conglomerates. Due to the area's repeated uplift, rivers have carved new channels in the valley floors within deep canyons, with remnants of the original banks appearing as terraces above the canyon. In narrow valleys, such canyons with steep conglomerate walls dropping into the river can be difficult or impossible to bypass.
In the southeast, where the ridge is most elevated, it adjoins the Torugart and Alai-Kuush ridges via the Sёok pass. The ridge has an asymmetric structure with long and gentle southwestern slopes and steep northeastern slopes. The foothills of the Fergana Ridge include the Babash-Ata, Suugan-Tash, Seryun-Dyobyo ridges, and others.
The slopes of the ridge are dissected by the gorges of the Kara-Kuldja, Kara-Unkyur, Kulun, Jazy, and Ala-Buka rivers. The rivers in the area (both in the east and west) are often quite serious, and bridges (except for the lower reaches of gorges near settlements) are absent, so any journey in the area requires certain crossing skills.
Vegetation to the east of the ridge is sparse, steppe-like, while in the valleys of the western foothills, alpine meadows give way to shrubs, and lower down – to deciduous forests.
The slopes in the northeastern part are steep and short, while in the southwestern part they are gentle and long. The middle and lower reaches of the valleys are quite green and very beautiful. In the lower reaches, Tien Shan firs are found, indicating a high amount of precipitation.
The vegetation is mainly represented by nut-fruit forests (mainly walnut), and higher up – by dark-coniferous forests, subalpine and alpine meadows.
The unique climatic conditions at the boundary of air masses have preserved relic forests of royal or walnut trees on the southern slopes of the ridge, covering an area of about 700 thousand hectares, which, according to scientists, originated in the Paleogene – more than fifty million years ago. One of the largest walnut forest masses stretches along the rocky ridges of Babash-Ata, surrounding the mountain village of Arslanbob – a well-known sacred place throughout Central Asia, steeped in numerous legends.
On the slopes of the ridge, specially protected natural areas have been organized: the Kulunatin State Nature Reserve, whose main attractions are the Kulun and Small Kulun lakes; the Saymaluu-Tash State Natural National Park; the Kara-Shoro State Natural National Park (Yassy Gorge), known for its healing mineral waters, and others.