Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve

Founded in 1959 in Aksy District of Jalal-Abad Region, the reserve spans altitudes from 1,200 to 4,247 metres. Its name means "yellow bucket" in Kyrgyz.

At its centre the turquoise Sary-Chelek lake stretches between mountains, surrounded by smaller lakes, while the slopes are covered with walnut, apple, juniper and fir forests.

Bears, lynx, ibex and many birds live here. In 2016 Sary-Chelek became part of the Western Tien-Shan World Heritage Site shared by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.