Kerben

Kerben lies in the Aksy District of the Jalal-Abad Region, in an easy on the eye mountain setting at about 950 metres above sea level, where the Fergana Valley gives way to the Inner Tian Shan. The town has roughly 14,000 inhabitants and was known until 2002 by the name Karavan, a name that already hints at its historical role in long-distance trade: through the nearby gorge of the Kasan-Say River, caravans travelled for centuries from the Fergana Valley over high mountain passes towards Kashgar in China's Tarim Basin. In 2004 Kerben was officially granted city status. The local economy is based on irrigated agriculture, with tobacco, maize, apricots and pomegranates, as well as cattle and deer farming. The nearby Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve, with its turquoise alpine lake and ancient walnut forests, also makes Kerben a gateway for nature tourism.

Nearby cities

Jalal-Abad

One of the largest cities in the south of the country, known for its hot springs and mineral waters.

Tash-Kumyr

An industrial city on the Naryn River, known for its coal mining and hydroelectric power plants.

Toktogul

A city north of the huge Toktogul Reservoir, surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges.

Kochkor-Ata

A city in the Jalal-Abad Region whose economy is traditionally dominated by oil and gas extraction.

Kazarman

A highly isolated mining settlement in inner Kyrgyzstan, often cut off from the rest of the country in winter.

Sary-Chelek Lake

A stunning high-altitude lake within a UNESCO biosphere reserve, famous for its crystal-clear waters and dense walnut forests.

Mailuu-Suu

A former Soviet closed city, famous for its uranium mining during the Cold War.

Suusamyr Valley

A vast high-altitude plateau at 2,200 meters, famous for its green pastures and traditional Kumis production.

History & landmarks

Saimaluu Tash

A remote mountain site hosting over 10,000 petroglyphs from the Bronze and Iron Ages.

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Saimaluu-Tash

One of the world's largest petroglyph fields, located high in the mountains, featuring thousands of ancient rock carvings.

Nature

Sary-Chelek Lake

Hidden in the mountains lies the deep blue Sary-Chelek Lake, framed by wild fruit and walnut forests.

Chatkal River

The wild Chatkal River has carved deep, breathtaking gorges into the mountains of the western Tien Shan.

More places

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Padysha-Ata State Nature Reserve

This protected area preserves unique fir forests and rare juniper stands in the picturesque mountains of Jalal-Abad.

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Uch-Kurgan Hydroelectric Power Station

The first built power plant of the Naryn cascade near the Uzbek border.

Fergana Valley

The Kyrgyz edge of the densely populated and fertile depression, known for its agriculture and complex borders.

Shamaldy-Say Hydroelectric Power Station

Another power plant of the Naryn cascade in Kyrgyzstan.

Tash-Kumyr Hydroelectric Power Station

Hydroelectric power plant on the Naryn River, contributing to the region's energy production.

Kurpsai Hydroelectric Power Station

A large hydroelectric power station on the Naryn River in Kyrgyzstan.

Mailuu-Suu Lightbulb Factory

One of the largest lightbulb factories in Central Asia.

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Fergana Valley Cotton Fields

In the warm plains of southern Kyrgyzstan, extensive cotton fields dominate the landscape.