Teskei Geopark 

Teskei Geopark is located in the Teskei Ala-Too Mountains, along the southern shore of Lake Ysyk-Kol in the Kyrgyz Republic. The Teskei Geopark occupies 8,090 km 2. The altitude varies from 1,600 m to 5,000 m above sea level. The Geopark’s lowest point is Lake Ysyk-Kol (1,600 m), and the highest point is the Karakol Peak (5,281 m).

Historic Heritage

The Teskei Geopark contains archaeological monuments related to both nomadic and sedentary cultures, such as ruins of medieval cities and settlements, burial grounds, mounds, caves, stone sculptures, and rock paintings. 

Archaeological evidence suggests that the territory of the Teskei Geopark has been inhabited since the second millennium. BC (from the Bronze Age). Ancient petroglyphs in the Den-Talaa area date back to the 7th-3rd centuries BC (Bronze Age) and depict the images of wild and domesticated animals (such as goats, bulls, boar, deer, etc.), as well as images of people and solar signs (symbolic cult images of the sun).

One of the best-studied archaeological monuments within the Teskei Geopark is Kan- Dobo City, which dates back to the VIII-XII centuries. The ruins are located on the banks of the Tuura-Suu River. 

Population 

The Kyrgyz constitute about 85% of the Geopark’s population, while other ethnicities make up the remaining 15%. Geopark residents main livelihoods are cattle breeding, horticulture, and tourist services. 

The Ysyk-Kol region attracts up to 1 million tourists annually. The vast majority of tourists coming to Ysyk-Kol visit the Teskei Geopark, which is known for its ecotourism and ethnotourism. The Geopark is home to local artisan communities that produce felt, traditional carpets, yurts, and horse tack.