Kyrgyzstan:Celestial Mountains

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Kyrgyzstan is the country of celestial mountains.

Over 94% of Kyrgyzstan lies above 1000 meters a.s.l. and 71% above 2000 meters, of which around 40% are covered with permanent snow. According to international standards anything above 1500 meters is counted as mountains. The average altitude of Kyrgyzstan is around 2700 meters a.s.l.

Our country possesses several peaks exceeding the 7000-meters benchmark. The highest peak on Kyrgyz territory is Peak Pobeda, which reaches an altitude of 7439 meters a.s.l.. It was the second highest peak in former Soviet Union and it also the most northern 7000-meters peak in the world!  We have also 23 peaks higher than 6000 meters, including 3 virgin peaks. And more than 80 peaks higher than 5000 meters, including 14 virgin peaks, which nobody has ever climbed.

There are over 88 major mountain ranges in Kyrgyzstan, most of them forming the Tian Shan Massive. In Kyrgyz language Tian Shan means Celestial Mountains. The other, such as the Chon Alai range in the south of the country belongs to the Pamir Massive. The Tien Shan Range is one of largest in Asia and 2/3 of it lies in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Tian Shan Massive in the North and the Pamir Massive in South meet in Kyrgyzstan and separate towards Uzbekistan in the West, holding the notorious Fergana Valley in a tight and merciless scissors grip.

During one day you can see different types of mountains because of diverse altitudes. You can start from a sunny warm valley early in the morning and reach the snow-covered peaks in the evening.