Suusamyr Valley

The length of the valley is 155 km. It is bordered on the north by the Kyrgyz Ala-Too, on the south and southwest by the Suusamyr-Tuu ridge, and on the south and southeast by the Jumgal-Tuu ridge. The vast expanses of Suusamyr stretch from the Ala-Bel pass in the west to the beginning of the Kekemeren River in the east.

The climate of Suusamyr Valley is noticeably different from that of the low mountain plains. In winter, cold air accumulates at the bottom of the valley, flowing down from the slopes of the surrounding ridges. Snow lies here for 130-160 days, reaching a height of up to 70 cm, while in summer the air is very fresh and clear. The entire surface of the valley is gently undulating and densely covered with lush green grasses of mountain meadows.

Surrounding the valley is a necklace of sparkling snow-capped peaks shining in the sun. "Shepherd's Eldorado" is how the Russian botanist V. Lipsky referred to Suusamyr Valley. Another well-known botanist, R. Abolin, called Suusamyr "an emerald in a silver setting."

Two rivers flow through Suusamyr Valley: the Western Karakol and Suusamyr, which merge to form the Kekemeren River, carrying its waters into the main river of the country, Naryn. The valley floor is covered with a carpet of alpine grasses and flowers. Suusamyr is a classic example of a high-altitude jailoo (summer pasture). Dozens of yurts of Kyrgyz nomads adorn the vast spaces of the valley. The administrative center of Suusamyr Valley is the village of Suusamyr, located in the eastern part of the valley. Suusamyr is the birthplace of the famous hero Kozhomkul. Kozhomkul became renowned for his heroic strength and for defeating the famous Russian hero Ivan Poddubny in a duel. On the eastern outskirts of the village lies the grave of Kozhomkul's mother, over which he placed a huge stone weighing 160 kg. He carried this stone on his shoulders from the riverbed, which is several kilometers away.

The ruins of the Suusamyr settlement, a monument from the medieval period (10th-11th centuries), are located north of the village of Tunuk. In the lower part of the valley, there are stone sculptures of ancient Turks (6th-12th centuries), as well as burial mounds of ancient pastoral tribes from the Saka-Usun period (6th century BC - 5th century AD).