Alay Mountains

The Alay or Alai Mountains (Kyrgyz: Алай тоо кыркасы; Russian: Алайский хребет) constitute a mountain range that extends from the Tien Shan mountain range in Kyrgyzstan west into Tajikistan. It is part of the Pamir-Alai mountain system. The range runs approximately east to west.[2] Its highest summit is Pik Tandykul (Russian: пик Тандыкуль), reaching 5544 m.[3] The southern slopes of the range drain into the Vakhsh River, a tributary of the Amu Darya. The streams that drain the northern slopes of the range are tributaries of the Syr Darya, and empty into the Fergana Valley to the north of the range. sv:Pik Skobeleva, 5051m, is also a well known summit. Roads from Erkeshtam to Osh pass through these mountains.

Alay Mountains
Alai Mountains from Jiptik Valley
Highest point
Elevation	5,544 m (18,189 ft)
Dimensions
Length	350 km (220 mi) W-S [1]
Width	20 km (12 mi) N-S [1]
Naming
Native name	Kyrgyz: Алай тоо кыркасы
Geography
Location of the Alay Mountains
Countries	Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Regions	Batken Region and Osh Region
Range coordinates	39°40′N 72°0′E

Some inprecise sources seem to use the term for the whole southern curve of the Tian Shan corresponding to the southern border of Kyrgyzstan, to up north until the perpendicular extension known as Fergana Range, but Alay Mtns are strictly north of Alay Valley, while confusingly, Trans-Alay Range of Pamir Mountains lies to the south of that valley, as well as Turkestan Range and Zarafshan Range at far southwest. Pamir-Alay is collective term for many systems above, but not including any of the Pamirs.