Mountain ranges occupy the greater part of the territory of Kyrgyzstan (60–65%). In several parts of the country, major nodal mountain uplifts occur, including Khan Tengri and Jengish Chokusu, the Ak-Shyyrak, Chilik–Kemin, Talas–Chatkal, Machin, and other massifs. These nodal uplifts, as well as the watershed sections of most mountain ranges, are covered by extensive glaciation. Overall, most ranges in the Tien-Shan are uneven in shape, with one side differing from the other, and this imbalance can vary even within the same mountain range.
Based on their orientation and mutual arrangement, the mountain ranges and mountains of Kyrgyzstan are grouped into six orographic regions: Central Tien-Shan, Northern Tien-Shan, Inner Tien-Shan, Western Tien-Shan, and Southern Tien-Shan. In addition, the Pamir–Alay orographic region, which belongs to the Pamir mountain system, is represented within Kyrgyzstan by the northern slope of the Trans-Alay (Chon-Alay) Range and the Alay Depression.
A list of mountain ranges in Kyrgyzstan includes 158 mountain ranges in Central Tien-Shan (16), Northern Tien-Shan (19), Inner Tien-Shan (48), Western Tien-Shan (30), South Tien-Shan (41), and Pamir-Alay (4).
Mountain Ranges of Central Tien-Shan
The Central Tien-Shan is characterized by the highest elevations, extensive glaciation covering about 40% of its total area, and the dominance of nival–glacial geomorphic processes. The mountain ranges are closely spaced and dissected by narrow valleys. Range Maximum height, m Highest peak Length of range, km Maximum width of range, km Adyr-Ter 4550 34 8 Ak-Shyrak Massif 5125 60 28 At-Jayloo 4477 36 9 Ashuu-Ter 32 15 Boz-Kyr 38 7 Kayingdy 5784 78 14 Kakshaal Too 7439 Jengish Chokusu 582 54 Kan Too 6995 Khan Tengri 38 9 Keykap 5100 18 7 Keolyu 5281Sovietskaya Konstitutsiya Peak 52 21 May-Bash 5361 22 16 Meridianalyi Druzhba Peak 22(in Kyrgyzstan) 40 Sary Jazz 5816 Semenov Peak 93 (in Kyrgyzstan) 16 Terekti 4930 48 11 Engilchek Too 5722 Shokal'skiy Peak 60 12 Eshekart 4384 50 12
Mountain Ranges of Northern Tien-Shan
The Northern Tien-Shan forms a series of mountain ranges that curve gently toward the south. These ranges are strongly shaped by erosion, with many ancient, once-flat surfaces now exposed again. Range Maximum height, m Highest peak Length of range, km Maximum width of range, km Arpa-Tektir 25 9 Trans-Ili Alatau 4973 Talgar Peak 120(in Kyrgyzstan) 30 Kalba-Too 4146 Atchypas Peak 25 14 Karagatty Semenov Peak 93 (in Kyrgyzstan) 16 Kara Jylga 28 7 Kastek Range 2782 32 (in Kyrgyzstan) 10 Kemin Range 3884 36 10 Kyrgyz Ala-Too 4895 Semenova Tian-Shanski Peak 454 40 Koshoy Too 3921 36 8 Kuru Ayryk 26 9 Kyzyl Ompol 3183 20 13 Kylak Bulak 32 7 Kyumyushtak 36 18 Kyungey Ala-Too 4770 Chok-Tal Peak 285 32 Oktorkoy 3125Cholok Peak 30 7 Ortok Too 2501 Shumkar Peak 35 8 Sary Jon 3230 30 9 Talas Ala-Too Range 4482 Manas Peak 260 40 Echkili Too 2160 42 9
Mountain Ranges of Inner Tien-Shan
The mountain ranges of the Inner Tien-Shan, branching off from the Central Tien-Shan as distinct spurs, gradually diverge, widening westward and gently curving southward. This area contains the most widespread remnants of ancient denudation surfaces. Range Maximum height, m Highest peak Length of range, km Maximum width of range, km Ak Shyyrak Range 4037 40 10 Alamyshyk Too3399 20 5 At-Bashy Range 4801Pik Rhianydd 140 30 Acha Tash Range 3975 36 13 Baybiche Too4337 140 13 Baydulu Range 4146Onarcha Peak 46 11 Bauk Range3388 28 8 Boor Albas Range3980 Itelgi Uya 20 10 Borkoldoy Too 5170Jagalmay 90 34 Jaman-Too4737 70 16 Jer Range4844 104 17 Jetim-Bel Range 4627Seok 102 12 Jetim Range4896 120 24 Jumgal Too4281 Kara Moynok 54 15 Itelgi Uya Range3812 20 6 Kabak Too4144Kashkasuu 40 16 Kapka Tash Range 4146 40 10 Karagatty3805 24 7 Kara Jorgo Range3933 66 12 Kara Kaman Range4343 56 14 Karakoo Junay Range 10 7 Kara Kyr Range4100 22 4 Kara Kyungey Range3800 22 7 Kara Moynok Range4281Kara Moynok 64 16 Kara Too4066 26 6 Karacha Too 20 5 Kekkirim Too4351Baidamtal 60 38 Kek Kyya Range4960 20 14 Kerpe Too455236 18 Kyzart Too4400 30 16 Moldo Too4185 110 26 Naryn Too4499Orto-Acha Mountain120 18 Nura Range4460 45 24 Oy Kayyng Range4273 36 20 Sandyk Range394750 12 Sary Kamysh Range4042 39 17 Songköl Too3856 92 9 Suusamyr Too4048126 31 Taktalyk Range3908 54 6 Tastar Ata Range3847 24 4 Tegerek Range300020 5 Teskey Ala-Too5216Karakol Peak 354 40 Torugart Range5108 64 20 Ukek Range435630 20 Ulan Range4542 56 7 Uch Emchek Peak 54 18 Chaar Tash Range20 6 Chakyr Korum Range4558 30 8
Mountain Ranges of Western Tien-Shan
Unlike most other mountain regions, which mainly run east–west, the mountain ranges of the Western Tien-Shan extend in northwest and northeast directions. Range Maximum height, m Highest peak Length of range, km Maximum width of range, km Alash Too 3574 20 8 At Oynok Range3896 70 16 Babash Ata Range 4427Babash Ata 54 8 Bozbu Too2875 30 14 Jalgyz Kyr Range 20 5 Donguz-Too (range)2354 28 6 Isfan Jayloo Range 3701 34 6 Kadoo Range 20 6 Kara Kyr Range 4634Kashka Suu 36 12 Kardy Too4129 31 7 Kachura Range 4497 34 10 Kenkol Range 26 5 Kek Suu Range3828 Chatyr Debe 60 15 Kochkor Dobo Range 2534 21 6 Kulun Range 30 10 Kuramy Range 3769 30 25 Kuturgan Range 24 5 Pskem Range4395 120 20 Sary Jon Range 24 5 Seruyun Dobo Range 2469 30 12 Suuk Range2991 22 6 Ters Range 3890 30 16 Toguz Bulak Range 20 7 Uzgen Range 4381 56 26 Uzun Akmat Range 4165 40 14 Fergana Range4893 Uch-Seit 206 62 Chaar Tash Range 3143 20 7 Chandalash Range4114 72 10 Chatkal Range 4503 165 30 Chong Boor Too3907 42 10
Mountain Ranges of South Tien-Shan
The Southern Tien Shan, like the Northern Tien Shan, is made up of mountain ranges that have been strongly shaped by erosion, with remnants of ancient flattened land surfaces preserved on ridges and between valleys.
Range Maximum height, m Highest peak Length of range, km Maximum width of range, km Adygine Too 3852 30 6 Akademik Adyshev Range 4745 Akademik Adyshev Peak 110 50 Ak-Tash Range, Alay 4249 20 1 Ak-Tash Range, Turkestan 20 9 Ak-Ter Range 4501 50 11 Akun-Too 3870 21 5 Ak-Changyl Range 4044 32 10 Alaykuu Range 100 15 Alay Range 5539 Peak Tandykul 350 20 Almaly Range 1935 20 6 Bali-Synyk Range 1571 26 11 Gauzan Range 3273 24 6 Daud Range 21 6 Joo-Jatty Range 4048 20 9 Kara-Bel Range 5621 Skalistyi Peak 20 9 Katyrang-Too 3375 44 8 Kek-Bel Range 22 5 Kek-Bulak Range 4039 22 7 Kekche-Too 21 6 Keldyuk-Too 5016 31 7 Kichik Alay Range 4933 26 10 Kek Tumshuk Range 5459 78 20 Kollektorskiy Range 5259 55 15 Kum-Bel Range 4000 21 8 Kuruk-Say Range 5147 31 5 Kyrk-Karakchy Range 2272 22 5 Ming-Teke Range 4432 28 8 Olokon-Too 4629 34 10 Sary-Tash Range 20 8 Taldyk Range 26 7 Tekelik Range 5127 Aydarbek Peak 27 12 Tekesekirdi-Bel Range 2913 20 6 Terek-Too Ytyk Peak 60 3 Teskey Range 27 9 Tokhtabuz Range 2650 28 5 Turkestan Range 5509 Pik Piramidalny 300 30 Tuyuk-Suu Range 4549 32 16 Uluu-Too 1635 30 9 Uu-Saz Range 2614 26 10 Chakan-Tash Range 4323 21 8 Chil-Ustun Range 1459 20 5 Yaruntus Range 3670 23 7
Pamir-Alay
The Alay region is markedly uplifted. Lenin Peak in the Trans-Alay (Chon-Alay) Range reaches an elevation of 7,134 m above sea level. This powerful uplift occurred over a relatively short geological period compared with other regions. As a result, the structure of the range includes not only Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks, but also Cenozoic deposits. The range is dissected by numerous trough (glacial) valleys and is covered by extensive glaciers and snowfields.
Range Maximum height, m Highest peak Length of range, km Maximum width of range, km Achyk Tash Range 5920 21 6 Trans-Alay Range 7134 Lenin Peak 250 40 Kek Tumshuk Range 5459 Ledyanoy Mys Peak 26 10 Putoo Range 4139 22 5
External links Kyrgyzstan Mountain Geography Dataset (KMGD) – downloadable source-traceable dataset of selected mountain ranges, peaks, glaciers, and geographic indicators
References
[Top 10 Highest Mountain Peaks in Kyrgyzstan](https://central-asia.live/en/articles/top-10-highest-mountain-peaks-kyrgyzstan)