Chuy Valley

Chuy Valley (Kyrgyz: Чүй өрөөнү, Kazakh: Шу аңғары)
Valley
Chuy Valley
Country	Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
Region	Chuy Province
River	Chu River
Area	32,000 km2 (12,355 sq mi)

The Chuy Valley (Kyrgyz: Чүй өрөөнү, Kazakh: Шу аңғары) is a large valley located in north Tian-Shan. It extends from Boom Gorge in the east to Moyun-Kum desert in the west. It has an area of about 32,000 square kilometers, and borders Kyrgyz Ala-Too in the south, and Chu-Ili mountains in the north. Through Boom Gorge in the narrow east part Chuy Valley is linked with Issyk-Kul Valley. Chu River is the major stream of the valley.

The warm summer and availability of drinking and irrigation water makes this area one of the most fertile and most densely populated regions of Kyrgyzstan.

There are deposits of zinc ore, lead, gold, and construction materials.

Climate

The climate is sharply continental. Summers are long and hot, and winters are relatively short and cold. The average temperature of the hottest month (July) is 24.4°C with the maximum of +43°C. The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is -5.0°C with the minimum of -38°C. The typical annual precipitation varies from 300 to 500 mm/year in different climatic zones of the valley. Precipitation progressively increases with increasing altitude near Kyrgyz Ala-Too range. Spring and autumn are the rainiest seasons in Chuy Valley.

Towns and urban-type settlements in Chuy Valley

• Bishkek
• Kara-Balta
• Kant
• Kemin
• Shopokov
• Tokmok
• Ivanovka