Chong-Kemin: Pristine Beauty

The Chon-Kemin gorge and valley is a unique and picturesque place in the Chui region, which is a unique natural complex, which includes a gorge, a valley and the Chon-Kemin river flowing through the valley.

The Chon-Kemin River originates at the junction of the Kungei-Ala-Too and Ili Ala-Too ranges and flows into the Chu River at the beginning of the Boom Gorge in the Chu Valley. The Chon-Kemin river is 116 km long. There are seven lakes in the river basin. The river flows through the specially protected area of ​​the Chon-Kemin State Natural National Park.

The Chon-Kemin valley is covered with green meadows, and on the slopes of the gorge there are light forests of spruce, juniper, birch, maple, mountain ash, etc. In Chon-Kemin there is a national natural park with an area of ​​500 hectares. Since 1997, the park has been under state protection, since on its territory there are unique species of flora and fauna, such as tolai hare, pheasant, as well as ephedra needles. In the park, natural landscapes have remained almost intact; it is interesting that glaciers are adjacent to green coniferous forests and steppe regions. The valley is closed on three sides by ridges and lies at an altitude of 1400 to 2800 m above sea level. If the valley is warm below and green meadows are blooming, then at an altitude of 4700 m on the Kungei-Ala-Too and Ili Ala-Too ridges there are eternal snows. There are several small villages in the Gorge. Here you can go trekking, horseback riding or spend the day with the locals at the guesthouse. In the gorge there are many tourist routes to numerous mountain passes connecting Chon-Kemin with Issyk-Kul.