Zone "Toguz-Toroo" ("Nine Chestnuts")
The zone "Toguz-Toroo" ("nine bays") includes the valley of the same name, the southern slopes of the Moldo-Too ridge (eastern part), and the valley of the Naryn River up to the mouth of the Kekemerena tributary. The center of the zone, the district center of Kazarman, is located 200 kilometers by road from the city of Naryn. The settlement got its name from the barracks of the cavalry unit of the Red Army that were stationed here during the fight against the Basmachi.
The characteristics of the southern slopes of the Moldo-Too ridge and the valley of the Naryn River mainly correspond to the "Ak-Talaa" zone. At the confluence of the left tributary Kek-Irim, the Naryn River has the widest floodplain, reaching 1.5 km. Terraces are formed by pebble deposits. The valley of Kek-Irim with its tributaries rises from 1200 to 2000 m above sea level. The boundaries of the valley are formed by ridges — Fergana (average height 3600 m), Kekirim (peak Kek-Irim 4351 m), Ak-Shiyrak (average height 3400 m). This zone has the most favorable natural conditions in all of the Inner Tien Shan. Here, precipitation is nearly a third more than in other zones. The valley is heavily dissected by terraces several tens of meters high. Caves are often found in the coastal cliffs. The surface of the valley is gently undulating. In its lower part, there are marshy areas, while higher up, the colorful steppe expanses prevail. In summer, the green carpet of grass is particularly pleasing. Against this backdrop, the white flocks of sheep are a delightful sight.
In the floodplain of the streams, poplar-willow forests and thickets of rosehip, honeysuckle, barberry, meadowsweet, dogwood, and sea buckthorn spread out. There are especially many shrubs of multi-leaved and Kyrgyz caragana. Among the thickets of shrubs, cozy glades can be found.
The gentle slopes of the surrounding ridges are cut by numerous gorges, where small rivers flow. The pure cold water, cascading over rocks and tumbling down cliffs in small ringing waterfalls, rushes further into the valley to impart its strength to the majestic Naryn.
In the side gorges of the Fergana ridge, mixed groves of birch, maple, and ash grow. Juniper clings to rocky slopes. On the edges of forested areas, thickets of wild black currant and hawthorn spread out. The trunks of birches present an unusual picture. They have a golden hue to their bark and are heavily bent in different directions or lie flat along the slope. Powerful roots cling to the sparse rocky soil and the slightest cracks in the rocks. The birch forest in the Congur-Tebe area looks particularly enchanting. Care should be taken with fire in the forest. Campfires should be made away from trees, but it is better to use a compact gasoline stove "Shmel." Do not break trees. After all, there are always many dry branches to be found in the thickets.
In the subalpine zone, you are immersed in grass up to your head, and to move forward, you have to carve out a corridor. In the tall grass meadows, you can find meadow fescue, kobresia, and eremurus. The latter can reach a height of 2 meters and have huge beautiful flowers. Fresh leaves of these plants can be consumed like cabbage.
The tall grass gradually gives way to alpine meadows, strewn with flowers and stones, covered with colorful lichens and moss.
In the steppe, there are ground squirrels, hares, ferrets, wolves, chukars, and foxes. Thickets of low caragana shrubs shelter wild boars, porcupines, roe deer, martens, and pheasants. In the belt of subalpine and alpine meadows, you can find marmots, grouse, wild goats, argalis, shaggy horned yaks, and snow leopards. In the Kanachuu area, there is the Toguz-Torouz zoological reserve covering an area of 59.6 thousand hectares, intended for the protection of rare and endangered animals.
Over many millennia, the Naryn has carved a narrow gorge between the western end of the Moldo-Too ridge and the Kekirim ridge. The river swiftly carries its waters through a narrow canyon with steep reddish-gray walls. The powerful current, twisted into coils, is filled with white foams and frothy whirlpools, assaulting the cliffs. Its gigantic energy moves huge boulders, and the collisions create a constant noise in the gorge. The described gorges may sometimes seem similar to each other, but each has its unique face and character.
Many attractions are concentrated along the ring road, creating good conditions for sightseeing. This includes a stone gallery with tens of thousands of black-and-white rock paintings in the upper reaches of the Saymaluu-Tash area, dating back to the 2nd millennium BC to the 8th century AD. The gallery is located 30 km south of the village of Kazarman. The variety of subjects in the paintings is striking: depictions of animals and people, hunting scenes, ritual signs, and labor and military activities. A stream of the same name flows through the area. On the outskirts of the village of Kazarman, the ruins of a settlement reminiscent of a city from the 10th to 12th centuries have been preserved. Monuments from the era of the Saka and Usun peoples are represented by scattered burial mounds 3 to 5 meters high, which contain burial sites.
Through the passes of the Fergana ridge, one can reach the zones of the Osh region. There is a road from the village of Kazarman to Jalal-Abad, but there is no bus service.
