Karakol

Karakol (Kyrgyz: Каракол), umwhile Przhevalsk, is a ceety o aboot 75,000, near the eastren tip o Issyk Kul Loch in Kyrgyzstan, aboot 150 kilometre (93 mi) frae the Kyrgyzstan-Cheenae mairch an 380 kilometre (240 mi) frae the caipital Bishkek. It is the administrative caipital o Issyk Kul Province. Tae the north, on hieway A363, is Tyup an tae the soothwast Jeti-Ögüz resort.

Karakol Каракол
The Roushie Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral in Karakol
Banner Coat airms
Karakol Location in Kyrgyzstan
Coordinates: 42°29′N 78°24′E
Kintra	Kyrgyzstan
Province	Issyk-Kul Province
Elevation	1,745 m (5724 ft)
Population  (2009)
• Total	67,100
Time zone	UTC+6 (KGT)

History

A Roushie military ootpost foondit on Julie 1, 1869, Karakol grew in the 19t century efter splorers came tae map the peaks an valleys separatin Kyrgyzstan frae Cheenae. In the 1880s Karakol's population surged wi an influx o Dungans, Cheenese Muslims fleein warfare in Cheenae.

In 1888, the Roushie explorer Nicholay Przhevalsky dee'd in Karakol o typhoid, while preparin for an expedeetion tae Tibet, the ceety wis renamed Przhevalsk in his honour. Efter local protests, the toun wis gien its oreeginal name back in 1921—a decision reversed in 1939 bi Stalin tae celebrate the centenary o the splorer's birth. Karakol then remained Przhevalsk till the demise o the Soviet Union in 1991. Housomeivver the name haes been retained bi nearbi Pristan'-Przheval'sk.

Nearby Issyk Kul Lake wis uised bi the Soviet military as a testin site for torpedo propulsion an guidance seestems, an Karakol wis sicweys home tae a sizable population o military personnel an thair families. Karakol continues tae be a major hub for visitors o Issyk Kul Lake.

Sichts

The minaret o the Dungan Mosque

Karakol gorge

Karakol is ane o Kyrgyzstan's major tourist destinations, servin as a guid stairtin pynt for the excellent hikin, trekkin, skiin an muntaineerin in the hie central Tian Shan tae the sooth an east.

The toun itsel boasts a nummer o places that wad be o interest tae tourists, sic as a vera pretty widden mosque biggit bi Cheenese artisans for the local Dungans atween 1907 an 1910 entirely athoot metal nails an a similarly appealin widden Roushie Orthodox kirk, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, completit in 1895, uised as an officer's club durin Soviet times, but nou restored an in uise again. The Regional Museum, follaein some sponsorship frae the nearby Canadian gold minin concern, haes exhibits on the Issyk Kul Lake petroglyphs, Scythian bronze artifacts, an a short history o the geology an mineral exploitation in the region. Thare an aa is a sma section o Roushie colonial "gingerbread" style residential biggins. The Sunday livestock mercatt is a guid place tae see remnants o the traditional nomadic rural life.

Przhevalsky's grave, a memorial pairk an a sma museum dedicatit tae his an ither Roushie explorations in Central Asie are some 9 kilometre (5.6 mi) north o Karakol at Pristan Przhevalsky, owerleukin the Mikhailovka inlet o Issyk Kul Lake whaur the umwhile Soviet torpedo testin facilities wur locatit. Facilities themsels are still a closed, military aurie.

Karakol is famous amang skiers an snawboarders frae umwhile USSR for its ski resort. Situatit juist 20 minutes frae the toun, the Karakol Ski Base provides services significantly better nor those available at Shymbulak, a resort ootside Almaty, an haes cheaper prices. Unlik Shymbulak resort, the ridin at Karakol includes forest auries as well as cleared trails.

Sister ceeties

• Asheville, North Carolina, USA
• Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey