Jalal-Abad Region

Jalal-Abad Region Жалал-Абад областы Джалал-Абадская область
Region
Flag Coat of arms
Map of Kyrgyzstan, location of Jalal-Abad Region highlighted
Coordinates: 41°15′N 72°15′E / 41.250°N 72.250°E / 41.250; 72.250Coordinates: 41°15′N 72°15′E / 41.250°N 72.250°E / 41.250; 72.250
Country	Kyrgyzstan
Capital	Jalal-Abad
Government
• Gubernator	Zhusupbek Sharipov
Area
• Total	33,700 km2 (13,000 sq mi)
Population (2015-01-01)[1]
• Total	1,122,400
• Density	33/km2 (86/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+6 (East)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+6 (not observed)
ISO 3166 code	KG-J
Districts	8
Cities	5
Townships	8
Villages	415

Jalal-Abad Region, also known as Jalalabat (Kyrgyz: Жалалабат облусу, Calalabat oblusu, جالالابات وبلۇسۇ; Uzbek: Jalolobod viloyati, Жалолобод вилояти, جەلالاباد ۋىلايەتى; Russian: Джала́л-Аба́дская о́бласть, Džalál-Abádskaja óblastj), is a region (oblast) of Kyrgyzstan. Its capital is the city of the same name, Jalal-Abad. It is surrounded by (clockwise from the north) Talas Region, Chuy Region, Naryn Region, Osh Region, and Uzbekistan. Jalal-Abad Region was established on 21 November 1939. On 27 January 1959 it became a part of Osh Region, but regained its old status as a region on 14 December 1990. Jalal-Abad Region consist of 8 districts, and includes 5 towns, 8 urba-type settlements, and 415 villages ^[2]

Geography

Jalalabad oblast covers 33,647 square kilometres (12,991 sq mi) square kilometers (16.9% of total country's area) in central-western Kyrgyzstan.

The southern edge of the region is part of the Ferghana Valley. The rest of the region is mountainous. M41, the main north-south highway from Bishkek to Osh, takes a very crooked route down the center of the region. Another road follows the south border almost to the western tip and then turns northeast up the Chatkal valley to Kyzyl-Adyr in Talas Region. Another road (closed in winter and requiring a jeep from the Ferghana range to Kazarman) goes east to Kazarman and Naryn.

An integral part of the country's power system is Toktogul hydroelectric power station, which supplies electricity and water to both Kyrgyzstan and neighboring countries.

Ecology and Environment

The area has several mountain lakes, walnut forests, and mineral waters. It has also the world's largest natural growing walnut forest, called Arslanbob, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Jalal-Abad city. Jalal-Abad Region is rich in ecological resources. Among strictly protected areas (IUCN Ia Category) located in the region are Sary-Chelek State Biosphere Nature Reserve, Besh-Aral State Nature Reserve, and Padyshata State Nature Reserve. Also there is State Nature National Park Saimaluu-Tash located in Toguz-Toro District. Natural monuments (IUCN category III) include: Tegerek Waterfall located in the upper reaches of Kara-Unkur River, Sogon-Tash Cave, and composed of red sandstone Kara-Jygach Rocks in Aksy District. Among other protected areas are:

• Forest reserves (Kuru-Kol Forest Reserve, Mesken-Say Forest Reserve, Dashman Forest Reserve, Batrakhan Forest Reserve, Uzun Akmat Forest Reserve)
• Botanical reserves (Chanach Botanical Reserve, Kosh-Tekir Botanical Reserve, Chatkal Botanical Reserve, Ryazan-Say Botanical Reserve, Djeltiybes Botanical Reserve)
• Game reserves (Toguz-Toro Game Reserve, Chychkan Game Reserve, Sandalash Game Reserve)

Economy

Economy

Wheat, fruit, vegetables, maize, nuts, tobacco, and silk-worm cocoons are grown in the region. The region also has a few textile plants and hydroelectric stations. Minerals, natural gas, coal, metals, and oil can be found here, notably around the town of Kochkor-Ata, which is home to small scale oil industry. Most of the extraction of minerals, natural gas, coal, metals, and oil of the Soviet era has ceased.

Livestock market in Kyzyl-Jar, Jalal-Abad Region

A pearl of the region is the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve with Lake Sary-Chelek, surrounded by wild fruit orchards and snow-covered peaks.

A few Soviet-era resorts offer mineral water treatment programs for people with various chronic diseases. A number of companies have succeeded in trading bottled mineral water around the country and abroad.

Except for the small fringes of the Fergana Valley, Jalal-Abad Region is a land of mountains. There are unlimited trekking possibilities in the area, but the lack of infrastructure, except at Arslanbob, poses problems to visitors; a biodiversity conservation program supported by the government and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is working to protect these natural resources and promote soft tourism.

Districts of Jalal-Abad

Jalal-Abad is divided administratively into 8 districts (southern districts numbered from east to west):^[7]

Demographics

As of 2009, Jalal-Abad Region comprised 7 towns, 7 urban-type settlements, 3 settlements, and 420 villages. Its population, according to the Population and Housing Census of 2009 amounted to 930,630 (enumerated de facto population) or 1,009,889 (de jure population).^[1]

References