Arpa Valley

The Arpa Valley (Kyrgyz: Арпа өрөөнү) is a high-altitude valley in the southwestern part of the inner Tien Shan. It is bordered by the Fergana Range to the southwest, the Torugart Range to the south, the At-Bashy Range to the east, Ortok Too to the northeast, and Jaman-Too to the north. The valley is approximately 60 km (37 mi) long and up to 32 km (20 mi) wide at its broadest point. Its elevation ranges between 2,600 m (8,500 ft) and 3,600 m (11,800 ft) above sea level. ^[1]

Arpa Valley
Arpa Valley Kyrgyzstan, Naryn Region
Floor elevation	2,600–3,600 m (8,500–11,800 ft)
Length	60 km (37 mi) NW-SE
Width	32 km (20 mi) SW-NE
Geography
Coordinates	40.70°N 74.87°E / 40.70; 74.87
Rivers	Arpa

Hydrology

The valley is drained by the Arpa River, a tributary of the Ala-Buga. It divides the valley into two parts — a gently sloping wide left bank and a steeper, narrower right bank. ^[2]

Geology

The Arpa Valley is a graben-synclinal depression. Its floor is filled with thick layers of alluvial and weathered rocks.^[1]

Landscapes

The Arpa Valley is characterized by the following landscape zones:

• Meadow and shrubby steppe (up to 3,000 m),
• On the south-facing slopes: subalpine semi-desert and dry steppe (up to 3,500 m),
• Alpine steppe,
• On the north-facing slopes: subalpine steppe and meadow steppe,
• Subnival zone (up to 3,800 m),
• And above that — glacial-nival landscapes. ^[1]

Climate

The climate is harsh: the average annual temperature is –5.4°C, with January averaging –23°C and July 9.3°C. Annual precipitation ranges between 250 and 280 mm. ^[1]

Roads

The highway of international significance, ЭМ-11, as designated by the national road classification,^[3] connects Bishkek, Torugart, and the Kyrgyzstan-China border. The road passes through the eastern part of the Arpa Valley and is part of the European route E125 and Asian Highway 61 network in Kyrgyzstan.

"From the top of the Sur-tash pass, on the Ferghana range, a most instructive view was obtained over the plateau world to the east. Below was the Arpa "Pamir," a broad, undulating, grassy valley, with the Arpa river flowing through its centre. The Jaman Davan range, which borders the Arpa plateau on the north-east, on the north closes in and joins with the Ferghana range, thus enclosing the plateau. The Arpa river cuts through this range by a deep-cut gorge, the course of which is still dotted on the map, by an imaginary line."^[4]