Ala-Archa National Park, National park in Chuy Region, Kyrgyzstan
Ala-Archa is a national park on the northern flank of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range, covering 2280 hectares between 1600 and 4860 meters in elevation. The terrain combines alpine meadows, coniferous forests, rocky ridges, and patches of permanent snow and glacial ice.
The park was established in 1976 to protect the natural landscapes of the Tian Shan and preserve alpine ecosystems for future generations. Its creation reflected growing recognition of the need to safeguard mountainous regions from overuse.
The park's name comes from the Kyrgyz word 'archa' for juniper, a tree that holds spiritual importance in local mountain traditions.
The site offers 150 climbing routes and various hiking paths that remain accessible throughout the year. An on-site nature museum provides information about the local flora, fauna, and mountain geology.
The area contains roughly 20 glaciers and more than 50 mountain peaks, including the Semenov-Tian-Shansky Peak at around 4900 meters. This concentration of ice masses and summits makes it a remarkable destination for glacier study and high-altitude mountaineering in Central Asia.
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