Kungey Alatau, Mountain range along Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan

Kungey Alatau is a mountain range of the northern Tian Shan, about 280 km long, running from the Boom Gorge to the Kegen–Karkyra valley along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Its highest point is Chok-Tal Peak at 4,470 m. The name Ala-Too means 'variegated mountains', referring to the contrast between snow-covered and bare slopes.

The range forms the northern rim of the Tien Shan, rising between the Boom Gorge of the Chu and the Chilik valley; its central section has long drawn multi-day trekking parties. The Jety-Tor pass on the Kyrgyz border carries the shortest route from Almaty to Lake Issyk-Kul. In 1962 the Kyrgyzfilm studio released Algimantas Vidugiris's debut documentary "Facing the Sun", filmed with I. Morgachyov.

The name Kungey, or Kyungei, means "the side facing the sun", while Alatau or Ala-Too means "variegated mountains", a reference to the visible altitude belts of snow and bare dark rock. In 1962 the Kyrgyzfilm studio released Algimantas Vidugiris's black-and-white documentary "Facing the Sun", his debut film, shot with fellow student I. Morgachyov.

The range lies southeast of Almaty, and the Jetytor pass on the Kyrgyz border carries the shortest route from Almaty to Lake Issyk-Kul. The central section is the usual ground for multi-day trekking; snow can close the higher passes outside summer.

The name Kungey means 'side facing the sun' in Kazakh and Kyrgyz, while Alatau or Ala-Too means 'variegated mountains', referring to the contrast between snow-covered and bare slopes. In 1962 the Kyrgyzfilm studio released Algimantas Vidugiris's black-and-white documentary 'Obrashchennye k solntsu' ('Facing the Sun'), his debut film, shot together with fellow student I. Morgachyov.