page_title: Karakol
section_title: Sights
hierarchical_section_title: Karakol / Sights
caption_attribution_description: Terskei Alatoo. Karakol gorge. Alakol
context_page_description: Karakol is the fourth largest city in Kyrgyzstan, near the eastern tip of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, about 150 kilometres from the Kyrgyzstan–China border and 380 kilometres from the capital Bishkek. It is the administrative capital of Issyk-Kul Region. Its area is 44 square kilometres and its resident population was 66,294 in 2009. To the north, on highway A363, is Tyup and to the southwest Jeti-Ögüz resort.
context_section_description: Karakol is one of Kyrgyzstan's major tourist destinations, serving as a good starting point for the excellent hiking, trekking, skiing and mountaineering in the high central Tian Shan to the south and east. Also this city is culturally rich by different ethnic groups that live here such as Dungan, Uighur, Kalmak, Uzbek, Russians and of course Kyrgyz. The city offers a great opportunity to discover other nationalities and cultures within the city.
  Przhevalsky's grave, a memorial park and a small museum dedicated to his and other Russian explorations in Central Asia are some 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) north of Karakol at Pristan Przhevalsky, overlooking the Mikhailovka inlet of Issyk Kul Lake where the former Soviet torpedo testing facilities were located. Facilities themselves are still a closed, military area.
  Karakol has Central Asia's highest ski resort, with 20 km of slopes, situated just 20 minutes from the town. Unlike Shymbulak resort, the riding at Karakol includes forest areas as well as cleared trails.
caption: Terskei Alatoo
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