Alay Valley

{{Short description|Valley in Central Asia}} {{Infobox valley  | name = Alay Valley | native_name ={{native name|ky|Алай өрөөнү}} | other_name = | category =  | etymology = | nickname =  | photo = Alai Valley 1.jpg | photo_caption = A view of Alay Valley, Trans-Alay Range, and Kyzyl-Suu (West) River | photo_size = 250  | country = Kyrgyzstan | state = | region = [[Osh Region]] | district = | municipality =  | parent = | range = | border = | part = | child_left = | child_right = | city = | landmark = | river =  | highest = | highest_location = | highest_region = | highest_country = | highest_elevation = | highest_coordinates = | lowest = | lowest_location = | lowest_region = | lowest_country = | lowest_elevation = | lowest_coordinates =  | length = {{convert|12|km|mi}} | length_orientation = East-West | width = {{convert|3|to|40|km|mi}} | width_orientation = North-South | height = | depth = | area = {{convert|8400|km2|mi2}}  | population = | population_date = | population_density =  | geology = | orogeny = | period =  | public = | access =  | free = | free_type =  | map = | map_caption = | map_background =  | website =  | footnotes = }}

The '''Alai Valley'''{{efn|{{langx|ky|Алай өрөөнү|Alai öröönü}}, {{IPA|ky|aláɪ ɵɾɵːnʉ́|pron}}}} is a broad, dry valley running east–west across most of southern [[Osh Region]] of [[Kyrgyzstan]] in Central Asia.

==Geography== The valley spreads over a length of {{cvt|174|km}} east–west. It has a width of {{cvt|27|km}} in the west, {{cvt|40|km}} in the central part, and {{cvt|3|–|7|km}} in the east. The altitude of the valley ranges from {{cvt|2,440|m}} near [[Karamyk]] to {{cvt|3536|m}} at the Taunmurun Pass with an average altitude of about {{cvt|3000|m}}. The area of the valley is {{cvt|8400|km2}}.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://new.bizdin.kg/media/books/География_Кыргызстана.pdf|title=Алай өрөөнү|trans-title=Alay Valley|encyclopedia=Кыргызстандын Географиясы [Geography of Kyrgyzstan]|pages=93–94|language=ky|year=2004|location=Bishkek|isbn= 9967-14-006-2}}</ref> 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]], ({{cvt|7134|m|disp=or}}). The western {{cvt|40|km}} or so is more hills than valley. On the east lies the {{cvt|3536|m}} Taunmurun (alternative spellings Taukmurun and Tongmurun) Pass and then more valley leading to the [[Erkeshtam]] border crossing to China.<ref>Middleton, Robert and Thomas, Huw with Whitlock, Monica and Hauser, Markus, ''Tajikistan and the High Pamirs: a Companion and Guide'', pub. 2012 by Odyssey Books and Guides, ISBN 978-962-217-818-2, pps.263-4 (map of Eastern Tajikistan shows location of Taunmurun Pass and altitude).</ref>

The eastern [[Kyzyl-Suu River|Kyzyl-Suu]] ('Red River') flows from the Taunmurun Pass past Erkeshtam toward [[Kashgar]].<ref> https://central-asia.guide/kyrgyzstan/destinations-kg/osh/alai-valley/ Retrieved at 1.29 on Sunday 19/5/24.</ref> The western Kyzyl-Suu flows west from the Taunmurun Pass 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 south-west into the [[Amu Darya]]. Highway A371 runs along the valley. The western pass to Tajikistan is closed to foreigners, but the [[Irkestam|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 {{cvt|4,280|m}} Kyzyl-Art pass to [[Murghab, Tajikistan|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 people|Kyrgyz]] with a few pockets of [[Tajiks|Tajik]] population.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://eurasia.travel/kyrgyzstan/cities/southwestern_kyrgyzstan/alay_valley/|title = Alay Valley|access-date = 19 June 2015|website = Eurasia Travel|archive-date = 15 October 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211015212912/http://eurasia.travel/kyrgyzstan/cities/southwestern_kyrgyzstan/alay_valley/|url-status = dead}}</ref> 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."<ref>Laurence Mitchell, Kyrgyzstan, Bradt Travel Guides, 2008</ref>

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

==Environment== The valley contains sagebrush and xerophilic mountain vegetation, with ephemeral vegetation at its lower levels. The upper slopes have patches of juniper and spruce forest. Bird species of interest include the [[snow pigeon]], [[Barbary falcon|Barbary]] and [[Saker falcon]]s, [[Himalayan vulture]], [[plain mountain finch]], [[white-tailed rubythroat]] and [[red-billed chough]]. The valley has been recognised as an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) by [[BirdLife International]]. <ref name=bli>{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/eastern-alai-iba-kyrgyzstan |title=Eastern Alai|author= |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-08-21}}</ref>

==See also== [[File:High Asia Mountain Ranges.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Pamir mountains from space<br/>Right: Tarim Basin<br/>Upper Left: Ferghana Valley<br />The Alay Valley is just visible as a white line running west from the west end of the Tarim Basin]] [[Image:Tajikistan Topography.png|thumb|right|250px|(double click) The Alay valley is between 72 and 74E at 39.5 north]] The Alai Valley in [[Pakistan]] is east of [[Besham]]. The population is mostly [[Pathan]] and lived under their own [[nawab]] until the late 1970s.

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Valleys of Kyrgyzstan]] [[Category:Important Bird Areas of Kyrgyzstan]] [[Category:Osh Region]]