| Alay Valley | |
| Photo Size: | 250 |
| Country: | Kyrgyzstan |
| Region: | Osh Region |
| Length: | 12km (07miles) |
| Length Orientation: | East-West |
| Width: | 3kmto40kmkm (02milesto30mileskm) |
| Width Orientation: | North-South |
| Area: | 8400km2 |
The Alay Valley (Kirghiz; Kyrgyz: Алай өрөөнү, in Kirghiz; Kyrgyz pronounced as /ɑlɑj ørø:ny/) is a broad, dry valley running east–west across most of southern Osh Region of Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia.
The valley spreads over a length of east–west. It has a width of in the west, in the central part, and in the east. The altitude of the valley ranges from near Karamyk to at the Taunmurun Pass with an average altitude of about . The area of the valley is .[1] The north side is the Alay Mountains which slope down to the Ferghana Valley. The south side is the Trans-Alay Range along the Tajikistan border, with Lenin Peak, . The western or so is more hills than valley. On the east lies the Taunmurun (alternative spellings Taukmurun and Tongmurun) Pass and then more valley leading to the Erkeshtam border crossing to China.[2]
The eastern Kyzyl-Suu ('Red River') flows from the Taunmurun Pass past Erkeshtam toward Kashgar.[3] The western Kyzyl-Suu flows west from the Taunmurun Pass and drains most of the valley, flowing on the north side. It exits through the Karamyk pass and a gorge into Tajikistan, where, under the name of the Vakhsh River it flows south-west into the Amu Darya. Highway A371 runs along the valley. The western pass to Tajikistan is closed to foreigners, but the eastern pass to China is open. A371 intersects the M41 highway north to Osh at Sary-Tash. To the south, M41 (Pamir Highway) becomes very rough and leads to the Kyzyl-Art pass to Murgab in Tajikistan, a route that requires considerable preparation and paperwork.
The valley has a population of approximately 17,000 and is almost entirely Kyrgyz with a few pockets of Tajik population.[4] One traveler says "with no jobs, a harsh winter climate, and poor conditions for agriculture, life is immensely tough here, and most of the adult male population have left to seek work elsewhere."[5]
Places in or near the valley: Irkestam, Nura, Sary-Tash, Achiktash, Lenin Peak, Sary-Mogol, Kashka-Suu, Bordobo, Kara-Kabak, Kyzyl-Eshme, Daroot-Korgon, Chak, Jar-Bashy, Karamyk, Achyk-Suu.
The valley contains sagebrush and xerophilic mountain vegetation, with ephemeral vegetation at its lower levels. The upper slopes have patches of juniper and spruce forest. Bird species of interest include the snow pigeon, Barbary and Saker falcons, Himalayan vulture, plain mountain finch, white-tailed rubythroat and red-billed chough. The valley has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. [6]
The Alai Valley in Pakistan is east of Besham. The population is mostly Pathan and lived under their own nawab until the late 1970s.