Toktogul

Toktogul lies in the western part of the Jalal-Abad Region at about 900 metres above sea level, just northeast of the vast Toktogul Reservoir, and has roughly 18,000 inhabitants. The present-day town was re-founded in the 1960s after the original settlement was flooded by the rising waters of the Naryn River as the giant hydroelectric station was built between 1962 and 1976. The Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant, with an installed capacity of 1200 megawatts, is the largest in Kyrgyzstan and, depending on water levels, can supply up to forty percent of the country's electricity needs. The town takes its name from the famous Kyrgyz akyn Toktogul Satylganov, a folk poet and komuz player whose socially conscious songs deeply shaped the Kyrgyz oral tradition. Today the regional economy relies on the hydropower plant, lakeside tourism and the cultivation of honey, apricots and beans.

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.

Kochkor-Ata

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

Kerben

A small town in the Aksy District, located in a picturesque mountainous landscape in the west of the country.

Kazarman

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

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.

Sary-Chelek Lake

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

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

Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station

The largest hydroelectric power station in the country, located on the Naryn River.

Kambar-Ata-2 Hydroelectric Power Station

A modern hydroelectric project to increase Kyrgyzstan's energy capacity.

Arslanbob Walnut Forest

The massive walnut forests of Arslanbob are a unique natural heritage, stretching across gentle hills.

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Dashman State Nature Reserve

The reserve is famous for its ancient and extensive walnut forests, which are considered the largest in the world.

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Fergana Valley Cotton Fields

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

Mailuu-Suu Lightbulb Factory

One of the largest lightbulb factories in Central Asia.

Kurpsai Hydroelectric Power Station

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

Tash-Kumyr Hydroelectric Power Station

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