Juku valley

The Juku gorge (Zhuuku, Zauka, Jukku) gorge is the longest gorge on the Terskey Ala-Too ridge, famous for its diverse nature, beautiful views and wide expanse.

It is located on the southern coast of Lake Issyk-Kul, 70 kilometers from the city of Karakol.  In ancient times, this place was part of the routes of numerous merchants and travelers from various countries.

Despite the difficult relief of the gorge, Juuku was the only way from the Issyk-Kul valley to China for a long time.

The views in the gorge are very picturesque: there are red rocks, a dense Tien Shan spruce forest, several high-mountain lakes and a stormy river.

In the upper part, the gorge turns into a kind of high-mountainous desert, connecting with the famous Arabel plateau, full of lakes.

The fauna in the Juuku gorge is presented more widely and more numerous than in other gorges.  Here you can see whole herds of ibexes, argali, stone martens, roe deer, snowcocks, kekliks and bearded partridges.

Some of the ancient monuments located here are also of interest: rock paintings of the 6th-1st centuries BC, burial places of the ancient Turks, stone statues.