About Issyk-Kul region

Issyk-Kul area is one of administrative and territorial units of Kyrgyzstan, located in the east of the country. Area capital is Karakol.
The lake Issyk Kul is the main source of incomes of tourism in Kyrgyzstan. Nevertheless on the lake Issyk Kul coast are still many undiscovered places on which place gradually appearing new comfortable vacation spots.
The most popular places among tourists on the lake Issyk Kul are the cities Cholpon-Ata and Karakol, resort settlements Bosteri, Sary Th, Chon-sary Th, Tamchi, and gorge Dzhety-Oguz.

Nature

The area occupies east part of the country, in its borders entirely is located famous lake Issyk Kul. On the north the area borders with Almaty area of republic Kazakhstan, on the east and south — with district SUAR in the Peoples Republic of China. The main forms of a relief of area are the Issyk Kul hollow, major part of which is filled by lake Issyk Kul waters (name means «hot lake» as the lake does not freeze in the winter.) and ridges of central Tian-Shan surrounding it. Northern part of the hollow is framed by slopes of ridges: Kungei Ala-Too, over southern coast Terskei Ala-Too towers. Internal high-mountainous areas of the area are occupied by mountains of Central Tian-Shan where ridges of Dzhetim-Bel, Borkoldoi, Kokshaaltau (famous Pobeda peak with height of 7 439 metres above sea level ) and others are allocated.

Infrastructure

Many legends are connected with lake Issyk Kul. One of them says that near northern coast is the flooded Armenian monastery where are hallows of Apostle Matheus buried. There is also a number of legends about the flooded cities and treasures. The majority of them is based on the real facts. As have shown underwater excavation, in the coastal zone of lake there is a number of the medieval cities flooded during more later time, including capital usuni Chigu.
Karakol is one of Kyrgyzstan's major tourist destinations, serving as a good starting point for the excellent hiking, trekking, skiing and mountaineering in the high central Tian Shan to the south and east.
The town itself boasts a number of places that would be of interest to tourists, such as a very pretty wooden mosque built by Chinese artisans for the local Dungans between 1907 and 1910 entirely without metal nails and a similarly appealing wooden Russian Orthodox church, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, completed in 1895.
The Regional Museum has exhibits on the Issyk-Kul petroglyphs, Scythian bronze artifacts. There also is a small section of Russian colonial "gingerbread" style residential buildings. The Sunday livestock market is a good place to see remnants of the traditional nomadic rural life.
Przhevalsky's grave, a memorial park and a small museum dedicated to his and other Russian explorations in Central Asia are some 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) north of Karakol.
Karakol is famous among skiers and snowboarders from former USSR for its ski resort. Situated just 20 minutes from the town, the Karakol Ski Base provides services significantly better than those available at Shymbulak, a resort outside Almaty, and has cheaper prices.

Transport
•   √ Bus
•   √ Car
•   √ Plane
•   √ Railway transport
Reservoirs and beaches
•   √ Lakes:
•   √ Sand and pebble beach
Climate
•   √ Foothill
Food & Drink
•   √ Cafe
•   √ Restaurants
Sport
•   √ Ski lodges
•   √ Area (sq. km)
•   √ Language (official and spoken)
•   √ Population
•   √ Power supply (voltage, socket type)
•   √ Religion
•   √ Telephone code
•   √ Time zone (+00:00 GMT)
Sights and excursions
•   √ Average quantity
Location type
•   √ Active
•   √ Beach
•   √ Natural
•   √ Popular
•   √ Sightseeing
•   √ Ski
Price level
•   √ Accommodation:
•   √ Food and drinks:
•   √ Goods:
Target audience
•   √ Adults
•   √ Groups of friends
•   √ Young people