Kara-Suu, Kyrgyzstan

The village of Kara-Suu is 600km from Bishkek on the upper reaches of the Kara-Suu River, 1300m above sea level. The village is 70km from Kerben and 210km from Jalalabat. A distinguishing feature of the area is the variety and multitude of flora and fauna.

The Kara-Suu River flows from the southern part of the At-Oynok mountain range and joins the river Naryn at the town of Tash-Komur.

Because the Kara-Suu is the Sary-Chelek national park's buffer zone, flora and fauna of many kinds are found there. The park and area comprises river valleys and settlements which flow along a winding course through almost all the territory of the reserve, in places between steep banks, strewn with boulders forming rapid cascades and waterfalls up to 3 meters high. Glaciers and permanent ice fields and high mountain lakes lie on the north facing slopes.

It is possible to view all this while driving to the shore of the fascinating Sary-Chelek Lake. It is right at the foot of the Chatkal mountain range. The beauty of this lake can be compared with the best in the world; its waters often appear a greenish shade of blue and make excellent photographs.