Gulchinsky Spring

Gulchinsky Spring is located 5 km southwest of the village of Gulcha on the left bank of the valley of the Jilisu stream at an absolute elevation of about 1900 m. The water is of the sulfate-bicarbonate magnesium-sodium-calcium type with a mineralization of just under 0.5 g/l, which is not unique and does not hold great value. The spring's discharge is close to 1.5 l/s — there are thousands of springs with such discharge in Kyrgyzstan. Finally, the water of Gulchinsky Spring contains just over 50 mg/l of dissolved carbon dioxide, which, while not entirely unusual, is certainly far from the record levels determined by many thousands of mg/l. One could even say more — springs like this one in Jilisu can be counted by the dozen in our republic, but only this one is famous. Why? Because, thanks to a slight increase in the concentration of CO2, the spring water deposits complex layers and flows of carbonate tuff (travertine) upon emergence, which look mysterious from afar and are quite understandable up close; and also because even at 29°C and a five-liter discharge, it quickly fills a small pool with flowing water, warmer than any found in springs for a hundred kilometers.

Its location along the busy road from Osh to Khorog has undoubtedly played a positive role in the spring's development. But most of all, it owes its fame to the people who built elegant gazebos, reliably protected from the sharp Alai wind, and platforms where one can relax and, if desired, swim in the invigorating water.