CHOLPON ATA

• Geographical coordinates: 42°39′N 77°05′E
• Elevation: 1 633 m
• State language: Kyrgyz
• Official language: Russian
• Ethnic Groups: Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Russian, etc.
• Population: 13 700 (2019)
• Time Zone: UTC + 6
• Telephone Code: (+996) 3943
• Postal Codes: 722125
• Vehicle Registration Code: 09

Cholpon-Ata is a resort town located on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, with a population of 14,237 as of 2021. It serves as the administrative center of the Issyk-Kul District in the Issyk-Kul Region, which encompasses most of the lake's northern shore. The town is situated between Tamchy to the west and Bosteri to the east along the A363 highway. The town boasts numerous sanatoriums, hotels, and guesthouses that cater to the many visitors who flock to the lake during the summer months. During the Soviet era, Cholpon-Ata was a popular destination for organized mass tours from other parts of the USSR. Nowadays, tourists usually visit independently or in small groups, primarily coming from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia, along with other countries. To attract more discerning international tourists, upgrading existing facilities will be necessary, but the location is undoubtedly appealing. The views of the majestic Tian Shan mountain ranges across the lake are stunning. The town also features a local museum and an open-air site with approximately 2,000 petroglyphs, dating from 800 BCE to 1200 CE.

History

An ancient settlement on one of the routes of the Great Silk Road, Cholpon-Ata's name is derived from the Kyrgyz words “Cholpon” (Morning Star Venus) and “ata” (father). There are several legends about the etymology of this toponym. One version suggests that "Cholpon-Ata" is a corruption of the name of the legendary saint Chopan-Ata, the patron of sheep (hence the word "chaban," meaning shepherd). In 2023, the city expanded to include the Bosteri aiyl district.

Tourism

During the summer of 2022, Cholpon-Ata saw about 40,000 car visits, equating to roughly 400,000 people, not including the town's 14,000 residents. This figure also includes visitors to the neighboring resort town of Bosteri. Additionally, the city gained prominence by hosting the "IV Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State," where Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan signed an agreement to assist each other in the event of threats to their independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

Geography

Located centrally on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, the city is 208 km (265 km by road) east of the capital Bishkek and 109 km (145 km by road) west of the regional center Karakol. The city is renowned for its sandy beaches and the crystal-clear waters of the lake.

Climate

Cholpon-Ata has a moderately maritime climate with mild winters and cool summers. Daytime temperatures in the summer months typically range from +20°C to +23°C, occasionally reaching +25°C to +28°C. Thunderstorms are common, occurring on average 9-10 days per month in June and July, and about 46 days per year, with some years experiencing up to 66 thunderstorm days. There are, on average, three days of hail during the summer. Dust storms are rare, occurring about three days per year. The highest recorded temperature is +31°C (August 1984), and the lowest is −21°C (December 2001). Winds are predominantly from the north in autumn and winter, and from the southeast and south in spring and summer, with a high frequency of calm days (25-27%) throughout the year. Strong winds (gusts of 15 m/s or more) occur about 18 days per year, with one day per month in winter, one and a half days per month in spring and autumn, and two days per month in summer. The maximum precipitation falls in summer (30-40 mm per month), with autumn and spring receiving 15-20 mm per month, and winter 8-10 mm. Annual precipitation ranges from 258 to 272 mm. The snow cover is unstable, forming in late November and melting by mid-March. The average snow depth is 2-3 cm in January and February, occasionally reaching 25-30 cm, and very rarely 45-50 cm. Fog is a rare occurrence, happening once every two years, with some years seeing up to 5-6 foggy days.

Education and Culture

Cholpon-Ata has two preschools, educating 220 children, and two secondary schools: A. I. Abdurazakov Lyceum and A. Osmonov Gymnasium. In 2002, the "SOS-Kinderdorf – Hermann Gmeiner Children's Village" was opened for orphans. Additionally, there are other educational centers in the city. The city also hosts three libraries, a cinema, a historical and regional museum, and an open-air museum featuring ancient petroglyphs. The private ethnographic museum complex "Ruh-Ordo" (meaning "Center of Spirituality") is another cultural attraction. Cholpon-Ata has frequently hosted the Issyk-Kul Sports Games.

Attractions

The main attractions of Cholpon-Ata are Lake Issyk-Kul and the Ala-Too mountain ranges. The Issyk-Kul State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve has been operating since 1979. The museum's exhibits include collections on the region's history from ancient times to the early 20th century, the culture of nomads, the epic of Manas, and notable figures in the arts and culture of the Issyk-Kul region. Tourists can visit the Chon-Koy-Suu and Cholpon-Ata gorges nearby to see petroglyphs and burial mounds.