Altyn-arashan valley

Gorge Altyn-Arashan

Altyn-Arashan (translated as "Golden Spring") is a high mountain gorge in the eastern part of the Terskey-Ala-Too ridge, located near the city of Karakol. This gorge is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kyrgyzstan due to its unique nature, hot springs located right in the gorge, vast spruce forests and stunning views.

Back in the times of the Soviet Union, the territory of the gorge was recognized as a specially protected protected area due to the great natural diversity of the gorge. The gorge received its status of a natural reserve in 1963 and still retains it, because it is one of the few places on the planet where a dense relic forest of Tien Shan spruce has been preserved. The hot springs of Altyn-Arashan are also widely known. They are located at a record height of 2600 meters and have a healing effect due to the content of radon and hydrogen sulfide in the water, maintaining a high temperature all year round: 35 degrees for a radon source and 41 degrees for a hydrogen sulfide one. Indoor pools have been built near some springs, while others are still "wild" to this day, located in baths or grottoes carved in stones.

A large flow of tourists to Altyn-Arashan is ensured by its location: through this gorge you can climb to the alpine lake Ala-Kul - the most beautiful lake Terskey-Ala-Too, overcoming the pass of the same name, 3800 meters high. The road there passes through the left tributary of the Altyn-Arashan River, 5 kilometers above the resort.

Another reason tourists love this place is the Aksu wall, which is also called Palatka peak, because of its unusual trapezoidal shape, which is very rare for the Tien Shan mountains. The view of the wall has become a kind of hallmark of the gorge. For lovers of hiking, a walk to the foot of the peak, where there is a small glacial lake Kashka-Suu and several waterfalls: Sharkyratma, Kuldurek, Tash-Tektir, Archaly-Tor and Takyr-Tor, will be of particular interest.

The Altyn-Arashan gorge has a complex geographical relief, unlike other mountain gorges of the northern Tien Shan. In its lower part, Altyn-Arashan is a narrow canyon with a high degree of elevation, and a turbulent river that can flood the road in summer. In the upper part, the gorge expands significantly and becomes a kind of alpine valley, with a very smooth elevation change. Upstream of the river, the gorge is divided, forming two branches that go around the Aksu wall on the right and left sides.