Mountain hiking in Central Tien-Shan.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” 

Lao Tzu.

Skiing trip in Kazakhstan.

Akkol gorge is located on the eastern slope of the Bayankol valley, located on the northern slope of the Terskey Alatau ridge in the Narynkol district of the Almaty region. The Akkol gorge is located south of the Bayankol frontier post.
The length of the gorge is 19 kilometers from the glaciers located on the northern slope of the Terskey Alatau ridge to the Bayankol river valley. The state border between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic runs along the crest of the Terskey Alatau ridge.
3.3 kilometers after the confluence of the Izbushka River, another tributary flows into Bayankol on the left, this is the Akkol River. The Akkol River originates in the upper reaches of the gorge of the same name at an altitude of 3483 meters above sea level.
One of the sources of the Akkol River is a moraine lake located at an altitude of 3568 meters above sea level. The lake borders on the northern part of the Central Akkol glacier tongue with a length of 1.4 kilometers.
There are four small glaciers in the upper reaches of the gorge. The length of the ridge crest, along which the Akkol gorge stretches from west to east, is 3.4 kilometers. In the eastern part of the ridge, the highest point of the gorge is located - the Ashutor Novy peak, 4427.6 meters above sea level.
In the upper part of the gorge, at an altitude of 3069 meters above sea level, there is Lake Akkol. The river of the same name flows through the lake, which is located in the interfluve of the Buzunbai river in the west and the Izbushka river in the east.
This is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Terskey Alatau mountains in the Kazakh part. The mouth of the river is located at an altitude of 2233 meters above sea level in the vicinity of the border outpost. The Akkol Gorge is very picturesque, with impressive panoramas of the surroundings opening up from the nearest hills.
Tien-Shan spruces grow up to 2857 meters above sea level in the upper reaches of the gorge. 1.4 kilometers south of the border outpost, at the beginning of the Akkol gorge, on the left side of the river, at an altitude of 2295 meters above sea level, there is a camp site.
Dirt roads have been laid to numerous farms located in the gorge. Due to the proximity of the state border to visit the Akkol gorge, it is necessary to issue a border pass. The fauna of the gorge is represented by a wide variety of wild animals, among the ungulates you can see: red deer (maral), Tien Shan argali, Siberian ibex, Siberian roe deer (local name spruce), wild boar.
Predators in the gorge are represented by: snow leopards, Tien Shan bear, wolves, lynx, foxes. There is a badger in the gorge. In the upper part of the gorge, in the alpine zone, you can meet a snowcock.
The flora of the gorge is represented by: Shrenk spruce, willow, juniper grows along the slopes of the gorge, along the barberry river. In the alpine meadows you can find: sushitseriya sushi, chamomile, edelweiss, sickle gentian.
Geographic coordinates of the Akkol gorge: N42 ° 34'41.31 "E79 ° 59'51.97"

Authority and photos
Alexander Petrov.