Cholpon-Ata
Cholpon-Ata (Kyrgyz: Чолпон-Ата, Çolpon-Ata, چولپون-اتا, pronounced [tʃolponɑtɑ́], literally "Venus-father", the name of a mythological protecting spirit) is a resort town on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan with a population of 14,237 (2021).[1] It is the administrative center of the Issyk-Kul District of Issyk-Kul Region; this district occupies most of the lake's north shore. To the west along highway A363 is Tamchy and to the east, Bosteri.
Cholpon-Ata
Kyrgyz: Чолпон-Ата | |
|---|---|
 Rukh Ordo complex at Cholpon-Ata | |
 Flag  Seal | |
  Cholpon-Ata Location in Kyrgyzstan | |
| Coordinates: 42°39′N 77°05′E | |
| Country |  Kyrgyzstan |
| Region |  Issyk-Kul |
| District |  Issyk-Kul |
| Elevation | 1,633 m (5,359 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
| • Total | 14,237 |
| Time zone | UTC+6 (KGT) |
The town contains numerous large and small sanatoria, hotels and guesthouses to accommodate the many visitors who descend upon the lake in summer. During the Soviet era it was much frequented by vacationers brought here in organized mass tours from other parts of the USSR. Holidaymakers now usually visit on their own or in small groups and originate mainly from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia with some tourists from other countries. Attracting more demanding foreign tourists will require upgrading of the existing facilities, but the location is certainly attractive. The view of the imposing alpine ranges of the Tian Shan across the lake is impressive. There is a local museum and an open-air site with about 2000 petroglyphs dating from 800 BC to 1200AD.[2]
The first three World Nomad Games were held in Cholpon-Ata, in 2014, 2016, and 2018.[3]
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,805 | — |
| 1979 | 7,221 | +4.63% |
| 1989 | 9,669 | +2.96% |
| 1999 | 8,851 | −0.88% |
| 2009 | 10,525 | +1.75% |
| 2021 | 14,237 | +2.55% |
| Note: resident population; Sources:[4][1] | ||
Transportation
The city is served by Cholpon-Ata Airport, with flights on one commercial airline.
References
- "Population of regions, districts, towns, urban-type settlements, rural communities and villages of Kyrgyz Republic" (XLS) (in Russian). National Statistics Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic. 2021. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021.
- Luc Hermann, Les pétroglyphes de Tcholpon-Ata, Paris, 2010 http://www.bod.fr/index.php?id=1786&objk_id=429117
- "The Ultimate Guide to the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan". 21 January 2020.
- "2009 population and housing census of the Kyrgyz Republic: Issyk-Kul Region" (PDF) (in Russian). National Statistics Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic. 2010. p. 207.
