Valley of the Chatkal River
Chatkal Valley is 30 to 50 km wide and stretches from the southwest to the northeast for 150 km. The surrounding ridges: Pskem, Talas, and especially Chatkal are characterized by rocky peaks, deep gorges, rocky slopes, and canyons. The average height of the Pskem ridge is 3200 meters, with the highest point being Peak Beshtor (4299 m). The Talas Ala-Too and Chatkal ridges are more elevated, with Peak Chatkal reaching a height of 4503 meters.
The valley is formed by the Chatkal River. There are 90 rivers in the Chatkal system. Major tributaries include Sandalash, Kara-Korum, Teroenti-sai, and others. The Chatkal basin represents a distinct area of the southwestern climatic zone of Kyrgyzstan. The unique orographic conditions played a key role in shaping the climate of the basin. The climate of the region is continental, with sharp temperature fluctuations between seasons and throughout the day.
The vegetation in this area is exceptionally rich and diverse. It is home to a large part of the mountain flora of Central Asia, including endemic species.
The territory contains historical monuments: Chan-charkhan, Kelbeskhan, the mausoleum of Idris the Prophet, and others. From the Chatkal Valley, a road through the Kara-Bura pass leads to the Talas Valley.
For tourism, the western part of the basin is of particular interest, where the Besh-Aral Nature Reserve is located. Here, the valley narrows, forming a narrow corridor through which the now turbulent Chatkal flows. After a few hundred meters, the mountains recede, creating a small valley in the center of which lies the village of Ak-Tash, while further down, the Pskem ridge approaches closely to the right bank of the Chatkal. Streams flowing from the mountains create short picturesque gorges - canyons. This part of the Chatkal River has good opportunities for rafting. Occasionally, Uzbek tour operators appear here, organizing rafting trips for foreign tourists down the river towards Uzbekistan.
Besh-Aral State Reserve was established in 1979, covering an area of 63,200 hectares to preserve the unique natural complexes of the Chatkal Valley. It is home to 1500 species of higher plants, 46 species of mammals, 150 species of birds, and 5 species of reptiles. The goal of the reserve is to protect the Menzbir marmot, an endemic species included in the Red Book of the Kyrgyz Republic and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as the habitats of Greig's and Kaufmann's tulips. The reserve's office is located in the village of Zhany-Bazar in the Chatkal district. Four tourist routes have been developed in the reserve. The fee for foreign tourists to visit the reserve is 10 dollars. Movement within the reserve is only possible on foot or on horseback.
