The Valleys of Alamedin and Issyk-Ata
Ala-Medin. The Ala-Medin Valley is located 25 km from Bishkek. The valley opens up through the so-called "Wolf Gates," beyond which it unfolds. The surrounding steep cliffs resemble the ruins of ancient fortresses. The gorge, which climbs steeply upward, widens at its sources, forming the picturesque Salik Valley. The areas covered with a variety of alpine meadow grasses are adorned with beautifully arranged rocks and adjacent cliffs. Here, in the upper part of the left bank of the gorge, in a narrow gorge framed by rocks, there is a small waterfall. Two impressive peaks: Chingiz Aitmatov (4650 m) and Kyrgyzstan (4860 m) rise above the Salik Glacier in the upper reaches of the right-bank tributary of the same name, and between them lies the Ala-Medin East Pass (3776 m), leading to Western Karakol and the Suusamyr Valley.
Issyk-Ata. The Issyk-Ata Valley, formed by the river of the same name, flows down from the northern slopes of the Kyrgyz Range, 80 km east of Bishkek. This area is distinguished not only by its favorable climatic conditions but also by its magnificent balneological resources. Here, based on more than fifty thermal springs, the now-famous Issyk-Ata resort was established, located in the middle part of the valley. The springs have been known since ancient times, as evidenced by the image of Buddha the Healer carved into the rock. Above 2800 meters, the slopes of the mountains are covered with juniper forests. Surrounded by high slopes and cliffs, the gorge looks majestically beautiful.
Above the middle part of the valley rises the rocky Botvey Peak (4000 m). The upper zone is capped by the trapezoidal peak of Lesgoft (4590 m). On the slopes of the high peaks, tongues of powerful glaciers can be seen, giving rise to numerous streams. From the passes: Tuyuk (4080 m), Issyk-Ata (3929 m), and others, paths lead to the southern slopes of the ridge to the high-altitude moraine-glacial lakes Kek-Mainok and Protsenko. Like bowls of milky water tinted with turquoise, they have spilled among the endless jumble of rocks.
