Alatai Nature Park
The forest where the ownerless piebald foal used to live
Dear visitor,
Welcome to the Alatai Nature Park – on the banks of the Uzun-Akmat River, in Ketmen –Tobo region.
Take a deep breath!
Enjoy the fresh air!
Let your view glide over the landscape!
Let’s start our journey in the wooded valley called Alatai. Alatai means “a piebald foal” in Kyrgyz.
Here, the summer is cool, the winter is mild and the pastures are rich. People have been raising livestock here for a long time.
Juniper, pine, cypress, sylvestris, gorse, blueberry and many other plants grow in the Alatai meadows, while the dense forest is full of wildlife.
The name “Alatai “came from a legend. According to the legend, once upon a time there was a cold winter with heavy snowfall and frost. The winter lasted for a long time. The spring was getting late. The people had nothing to eat anymore, the fodder for the animals was exhausted. A famine broke out.
But the people were smart: They removed the snow from sunlit places. So the grass could grow there. And, the people cut thin branches of large trees to feed the animals.
Eventually, they managed to save their cattle!
The hard times passed by, the days got warmer, the locals braved the winter with their animals.
Life gradually went on. But after a while, a rumor about a young ownerless piebald foal, which is a year-old spotted horse, spread around. People saw it alone in the densely wooded area at the foot of a mountain. It couldn’t have arrived from Aksy or Talas mountains as the passes were still covered with too much snow. So they assumed it got lost from its herd in the fall, but it was surprising that the piebald survived the winter alone. It did not starve, and had not been eaten by the wolves.
Ever since, the place was called Alatai – The forest where the ownerless piebald foal lived.
The Alatai state natural park
Dear guest,
Now, we are entering the Alatai state natural park. The park is in Toktogul – a mountainous and wooded region with an amazingly beautiful nature.
The park, which is one of the youngest parks in the country, was founded in 2016, in order to preserve the irreplaceable natural complexes, and to save the rare species of animals and plants from extinction. It is estimated that there are about 450 different plant species in the park.
You will be able to see the Semenov fir, Tien Shan pine trees, birches, poplars, junipers, dark wood, apple trees, apricot trees as well as sea-buckthorn bushes, big pistachio trees, rosehip, wild strawberry and black currant bushes.
The park’s wildlife is also very impressive. There are 199 species of vertebrates, including one amphibian specie, 7 reptile species, 30 known mammal species and 111 bird species.
The plants that are listed in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan and grow here are:
- the Semenov fir,
- Suusamyr resin flower,
- legendary wild apple Sieversii,
- and wild larkspur.
The animals on the Red list, which you can find here are:
- white leopard,
- lynx,
- marten and
- brown bear.
Today, the park has 17 employees – scientists, foresters, gamekeepers and administration. They study the natural processes in the park and monitor the state of change, protecting animals and plants that are on the verge of extinction. The most important thing for the park is to keep its unique natural complexes and biodiversity.
Note, how pure and unspoilt the nature of the young park is!
The fresh mountain air and beautiful mountain panoramas framed with wildflowers make a peaceful harmony.
Nowadays, Alatai is a nature reserve and also a place where eco tourism develops.
And we want this place to stay like it is.
Therefore, we need your support!
Take care of the flora and fauna around!
Take your garbage with you!
Enjoy your visit!