This hydroelectric station, with a concrete gravity dam 215 meters high, has a capacity of 1200 MW and provides about 40% of the total electricity generation in the country. The construction of the dam began in 1960, and the power station was commissioned in 1975.
Turmush presents a legend associated with two mountains located on either side of the dam. Interesting details about it were provided by Sabyrzhan Toktogulov, a hydro builder who served as the chairman of the city council from 1996 to 2008 and was the mayor of the city of Mailuu-Suu from 2008 to 2010.
According to Toktogulov, about 20 years ago, an elderly man shared this story with him. "I don't remember his name, but we were discussing the mountains, and he told me that each mountain holds its own legend. He shared one of them. The mountains that now surround the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station were once called differently — to the right was Mount Abla, and to the left was Tegerek. Apparently, this dates back to the Karakhanid era.
According to the legend, on the slope of Mount Abla lived a young man named Abla, who tended a herd of horses. One day, hearing the beautiful voice of a girl coming from the opposite mountain, he was enchanted and began to listen to her songs, which he did not hear every day. In search of this mysterious singer, he went to the area where the city of Kara-Kul is now located and asked the locals. They told him about a girl named Tegerek, who had a wonderful voice. Soon they met and realized that they were in love with each other, promising to always stay together despite any obstacles," recalls S. Toktogulov.
Then, as the legend goes, one of the khans decided to organize a campaign and gathered all the young men who could ride horses and wield weapons, among them was Abla. For two years, the young men participated in campaigns, and Abla proved his valor in battles. For his merits, he was awarded the title of "baatyr." When Abla was returning home, he met fellow villagers who informed him that his beloved Tegerek had been married off.
At that time, the water level in the Naryn River had significantly increased, and there was no crossing. It was impossible to cross the river even on horseback. Despite this, Abla, engulfed in grief, tried to cross the river, but he was swept away by the current.
The villagers told Tegerek about the tragedy: supposedly, Abla, returning from the raid, learned of her betrothal and, being saddened, tried to cross the river and perished. Shocked by such news, Tegerek decided to throw herself into the river to not break her promise. But at the last moment, she was stopped by an unknown person, who turned out to be Abla, who, thanks to the experience gained in campaigns, survived. In the lower reaches of the river, he managed to stand up and pulled himself to the shore. The villagers believed that it was love that helped him survive.
Today, as S. Toktogulov reported, between the mountains of Abla and Tegerek lies the dam of the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station.
