Because the land climbs from semi-desert to eternal snow, Kyrgyzstan packs an extraordinary variety of nature into a small area — and sits where several zoological regions meet.
Plants and forests
The flora is shaped by altitude. North-facing slopes carry shrubs, spruce forests and meadows; dry south-facing slopes have no forest and turn to steppe and semi-desert. More than 3,700 higher plant species grow here, about 200 of them medicinal.
The south holds unique wild walnut-fruit forests on the Fergana and Chatkal ranges between 1,000 and 2,200 m — walnut, wild apple (Sievers’ apple), Sogdian plum, pear, cherry, barberry, almond and pistachio, a precious genetic treasure; Arslanbob is the best place to see them. Tien Shan spruce, Semenov fir and juniper (archa) dominate the north.
On alpine meadows around 3,000 m you find edelweiss — not rare here as in Europe — alpine asters and primroses. In spring the hills are covered with Greig’s and Kaufmann’s tulips and poppies; the Valley of Flowers near Jeti-Oguz blazes red with poppies from May.
Wildlife
More than 500 vertebrate species live in Kyrgyzstan: about 86 mammals, 335 birds, over 25 reptiles and over 50 fish, plus some 4,000 insects. The symbol of the country is the snow leopard (ilbirs). In the high mountains live ibex, argali (Marco Polo sheep), brown bears, wolves, lynx and marmots; golden eagles, bearded vultures and Himalayan griffons circle above.
The national Red Book lists 26 mammals — among them the snow leopard, argali, Tien Shan brown bear, manul, red wolf and lynx — and 53 birds, including the golden eagle, saker falcon and bearded vulture.
Protected areas
Around 4.5% of the country is protected in state reserves, national parks and sanctuaries.
State nature reserves
- Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve — lake, walnut and fir forests (UNESCO biosphere reserve)
- Issyk-Kul Biosphere Territory and the Issyk-Kul reserve
- Sarychat-Ertash — high-mountain home of the snow leopard and argali
- Besh-Aral, Karatal-Japyryk, Kulun-Ata, Naryn, Padysha-Ata and Surmatash reserves
National parks
- Ala-Archa — just south of Bishkek
- Chon-Kemin, Karakol, Kara-Shoro, Kyrgyz-Ata, Kyrchyn, Besh-Tash, Saimaluu-Tash (rock carvings), Salkyn-Tor and Sarkent
Natural monuments
Among them are the red rocks of Jeti-Oguz, the sacred Sulaiman-Too mountain in Osh, the Abshir-Ata waterfall, the canyons of At-Bashy and Kok-Jerty, and caves with stalactites and ancient inscriptions in the Osh and Batken regions.
