Alay Valley

The Alay Valley (Kyrgyz: Алай өрөөнү, Kyrgyz pronunciation: [ɑlɑj ørø:ny]) is a broad, dry valley running east–west across most of southern Osh Region, Kyrgyzstan. It spreads over a length of 174 km (108 mi) east–west. The valley extends in north–south direction with varying width of 27 km (17 mi) in the west, 40 km (25 mi) in the central part, and 3–7 km (1.9–4.3 mi) in the east. The altitude of the valley ranges from 2,440 m (8,010 ft) near Karamyk to 3,536 m (11,601 ft) at Toomurun Pass with an average altitude of about 3,000 m (9,800 ft). The area of the valley is 8,400 km² (3,200 sq mi).[1] The north side is the Alay Mountains which slope down to the Ferghana Valley. The south side is the Trans-Alay Range along the Tajikistan border, with Lenin Peak, (7,134 m or 23,406 ft). The western 40 km (25 mi) or so is more hills than valley. On the east there is the low Tongmurun pass and then more valley leading to the Irkestam border crossing to China.

Alay Valley
A view of Alay Valley, Trans-Alay Range, and Kyzyl-Suu (West) River
Length	12 kilometres (7.5 mi) East-West
Width	3 to 40 kilometres (1.9 to 24.9 mi) North-South
Area	8,400 square kilometres (3,200 sq mi)
Naming
Native name	Алай өрөөнү (Kyrgyz)
Geography
Country	Kyrgyzstan
State/Province	Osh Region

The eastern Kyzyl-Suu ('Red River') flows from the Tongmurun rise past Irkestam toward Kashgar. The western Kyzyl-Suu flows west from the Tongmurun rise and drains most of the valley, flowing on the north side. It exits through the Karamyk pass and a gorge into Tajikistan, where, under the name of the Vakhsh River it flows southwest into the Amu Darya. Highway A371 runs along the valley. The western pass to Tajikistan is closed to foreigners, but the eastern pass to China is open. A371 intersects the M41 highway north to Osh at Sary-Tash. To the south, M41 (Pamir Highway) becomes very rough and leads to the 4,280 m (14,040 ft) Kyzyl-Art pass to Murgab in Tajikistan, a route that requires considerable preparation and paperwork.

The valley has a population of approximately 17,000 and is almost entirely Kyrgyz with a few pockets of Tajik population.[2] One traveler says "with no jobs, a harsh winter climate, and poor conditions for agriculture, life is immensely tough here, and most of the adult male population have left to seek work elsewhere."[3]

Places in or near the valley: Irkestam, Nura, Sary-Tash, Achiktash, Lenin Peak, Sary-Mogol, Kashka-Suu, Bordobo, Kara-Kabak, Kyzyl-Eshme, Daroot-Korgon, Chak, Jar-Bashy, Karamyk, Achyk-Suu.