Introduction Issyk-Kul Province

Kyrgyzstan is wedged in the mountainous wrinkles between Kazakhstan and China, created long ago when the land mass we now call India, propelled by plate tectonics, slammed into the Asian plate. Living there are a proud people with a rich history, surrounded by natural, high-altitude beauty.
Issyk Kul 

 Out of numerous Kyrgyz lakes, one in particular stands out - Lake Issyk Kul. When seen from orbit, Issyk Kul appears to be a giant eye, looking at us looking down at it. The snow-covered mountains become aged eyebrows. The lake itself, having a fairly high salt concentration, does not typically freeze over, thus reflecting wintertime light in such a way as to form a “pupil” that seems to track us as we orbit overhead.

 The Issyk-Kul region in Kyrgyzstan is a diverse landscape holding the status of Biosphere Reserve under both Kyrgyz law and the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme.

     -  Population: 437,200 (assessment for 1 January 2009) including 28.7% - urban, and      71.3% - rural population

-         -  Employed population: 180,300 (2008)

-         -  Registered unemployed population: 4,902 (2008)

-         -  Export: 18.8 million US dollars (2008)

          -  Area: 43,100 km²

    
   The north is dominated by the eye-shaped Issyk Kul Lake, surrounded by the ridges of the Tian Shan mountain system: the Kyungey Ala-Too Mountains to the north and the Terskey Alatau to the south (the 'sunny' and 'shady' Alatau, respectively). To the south is mountains and 'jailoos' (mountain meadows used for summer grazing). The highest peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains, including Khan Tengri, are located in the easternmost part of the province.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issyk_Kul_Province

Most of the population of the province lives around the lake, in particular in the cities of Balykchy near the lake's western end, and Karakol near its eastern end.