View source for Karakol

{{other uses|Karakol (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Karakol
| native_name              = Каракол
| image_shield             = Coat of arms of Karakol.svg
| image_skyline            = <!-- images and maps  -----------> {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| perrow            = 1/2/2/2/2
| total_width       = 250
| image1 = Каракол, парк Пушкина, сферопанорама.jpg
| image2 = Statue of Tagay-Biy in Karakol 2.jpg
| image3 = Karakol.jpg
| image4 = Kyrgyzstan Karakol.jpg
| image5 = Karakol - 24 (49358718802).jpg
| footer = From the top to bottom-right, Panoramic view of Karakol, Tagay-Biy Statue, [[Holy Trinity Church, Karakol|Holy Trinity Church]], Dungan Mosque, Apartment Buildings}}
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = Flag of Karakol.svg
| image_seal               = 
| map_caption              = 
| pushpin_map              = Kyrgyzstan
| pushpin_label_position   = bottom
| pushpin_mapsize          = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Kyrgyzstan
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1        = [[Regions of Kyrgyzstan|Region]]
| subdivision_name         = {{KGZ}}
| subdivision_name1        = [[Issyk-Kul Region]]
| subdivision_type2        = 
| subdivision_name2        = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_sq_mi         = 
| area_total_km2           = 44
| area_land_sq_mi          = 
| area_land_km2            = 
| area_urban_sq_mi         = 
| area_urban_km2           = 
| area_metro_km2           = 
| area_metro_sq_mi         = 
| population_as_of         = 2021
| population_footnotes     = <ref name=pop21/>
| population_total         = 84351
| population_urban         = 
| population_metro         = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_density_km2   = auto
| timezone                 = KGZ
| utc_offset               = +6
| timezone_DST             = 
| utc_offset_DST           = 
| coordinates              = {{coord|42|29|25|N|78|23|30|E|region:KG|display=it}}
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 
| elevation_ft             = 5724
| postal_code_type         = 
| postal_code              = 722200
| area_code                = 
| website                  = https://www.karakol.com.kg/
| footnotes                =
}}

'''Karakol''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|æ|r|ə|ˈ|k|oʊ|l}}; {{langx|ky|Каракол}}, {{IPA|ky|qɑrɑˈqɔɫ|IPA}}), formerly '''Przhevalsk''' ({{lang-rus|Пржевальск|p=pr̩ʐɨˈvalʲsk}}), is the fourth-largest city in [[Kyrgyzstan]], near the eastern tip of Lake [[Issyk-Kul]], about {{Convert|150|km}} from the [[Kyrgyzstan–China border]] and {{Convert|380|km}} from the capital [[Bishkek]]. It is the administrative capital of [[Issyk-Kul Region]]. Its area is {{convert|44|km2}},<ref name=census09>{{cite Kyrgyzstan census 2009|Issyk-Kul|11, 16, 50}}</ref> and its resident population was 84,351 in 2021 (both including [[Pristan'-Przheval'sk]]).<ref name=pop21>{{cite Kyrgyzstan population 2021}}</ref> To the north, on highway A363, is [[Tüp]], and to the southwest [[Jeti-Ögüz resort]].

==History==
A Russian military outpost founded on 1 July 1869, Karakol grew in the 19th century after explorers came to map the peaks and valleys separating Kyrgyzstan from China.  In the 1880s Karakol's population surged with an influx of [[Dungan people|Dungans]], Chinese Muslims fleeing warfare in China.

In 1888, the Russian explorer [[Nikolay Przhevalsky]] died in Karakol of [[typhoid]], while preparing for an expedition to [[Tibet]]. By order of Tsar Alexander III on 23 March 1889 the city was renamed Przhevalsk in the explorer's honor.<ref>Высочайшее повеление. Правительственный вестник. № 5. за 1889 год [Highest order. Government Bulletin. No. 5. for 1889].</ref> After local protests, the town was given its original name back in 1921 — a decision reversed in 1939 by Stalin to celebrate the centenary of the explorer's birth. Karakol then remained Przhevalsk until the demise of the [[Soviet Union]] in 1991. However the name has been retained by nearby [[Pristan'-Przheval'sk]].

Nearby Issyk Kul Lake was used by the Soviet military as a testing site for torpedo propulsion and guidance systems and Karakol was thus home to a sizable population of military personnel and their families. Karakol continues to be a major hub for visitors of Issyk Kul Lake.

==Demographics==
Karakol is the fourth largest city in Kyrgyzstan after [[Bishkek]], [[Osh]] and [[Jalal-Abad]]. The resident population of Karakol, as of 2021, was 84,351, of which 2,829 in Pristan'-Przheval'sk. The largest ethnic minority groups in Karakol are [[Russians]] (17.0%, 2009 census) and [[Uyghurs]] (3.9%).<ref name=census09/>

{{Historical populations
|title       = Historical populations in Karakol
|align       = 
|percentages = pagr
|1897|8108
|1907|13948
|1926|13366
|1939|21193
|1959|32565
|1970|45048
|1979|54083
|1989|65407
|1999|67721
|2009|66924
|2021|84351
|footnote= Sources:<ref name=census09/><ref name=pop21/><ref>[http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus_gub_97.php?reg=85 Первая всеобщая перепись населения Российской Империи 1897 г. Наличное население в губерниях, уездах, городах Российской Империи (без Финляндии). Семиреченская область] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629062446/http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus_gub_97.php?reg=85 |date=29 June 2011 }} First General Russian Empire Census of 1897. Population in provinces, districts, towns of Russian Empire (without Finland). Semirech'e Province (Demoscope.ru) {{in lang|ru}}</ref><ref>{{Citation   | title = Review of Semirech'e Oblast for 1907 (Обзор Семиреченской области за 1907 год)   | place = Verniy   | publisher = Publishing House of Semirech'e Provincial Administration   | year = 1908   | url = http://rarebooks.net.kg/ru/view/56/   | access-date = 6 March 2011   | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722132014/http://rarebooks.net.kg/ru/view/56/   | archive-date = 22 July 2011   | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{Citation| title =Всесоюзная перепись населения 1926 года : Киргизская АССР. (All-Union Census of 1926: Kyrgyz ASSR)| place =Moscow| publisher =CSU SSSR| year =1928| url =http://rarebooks.net.kg/ru/view/30/| access-date =6 March 2011| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110722132021/http://rarebooks.net.kg/ru/view/30/| archive-date =22 July 2011| url-status =dead}}</ref><ref>[http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus_pop_39_2.php 1939 census USSR]</ref><ref>[http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/ussr59_reg2.php 1959 census USSR]</ref><ref>[http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/ussr70_reg1.php Численность наличного населения городов, поселков городского типа, районов и районных центров СССР по данным переписи на 15 января 1970 года по республикам, краям и областям (кроме РСФСР)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209054540/http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/ussr70_reg1.php |date= 9 February 2011 }}</ref>
}}

==Geography==

===Climate===
Karakol features a [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfb'') according to the [[Köppen climate classification]].

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Karakol
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan high C = -4.7
|Feb high C = -2.9
|Mar high C = 4.8
|Apr high C = 14.0
|May high C = 18.9
|Jun high C = 23.1
|Jul high C = 25.5
|Aug high C = 25.0
|Sep high C = 20.2
|Oct high C = 12.7
|Nov high C = 3.4
|Dec high C = -2.3

|Jan mean C = -10.4
|Feb mean C = -8.5
|Mar mean C = -0.5
|Apr mean C = 7.8
|May mean C = 12.8
|Jun mean C = 16.7
|Jul mean C = 19.0
|Aug mean C = 18.2
|Sep mean C = 13.4
|Oct mean C = 6.4
|Nov mean C = -1.9
|Dec mean C = -7.6

|Jan low C = -16.1
|Feb low C = -14.0
|Mar low C = -5.8
|Apr low C = 1.7
|May low C = 6.8
|Jun low C = 10.4
|Jul low C = 12.5
|Aug low C = 11.4
|Sep low C = 6.7
|Oct low C = 0.1
|Nov low C = -7.1
|Dec low C = -12.9
| precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 12
|Feb precipitation mm = 14
|Mar precipitation mm = 23
|Apr precipitation mm = 39
|May precipitation mm = 55
|Jun precipitation mm = 54
|Jul precipitation mm = 57
|Aug precipitation mm = 55
|Sep precipitation mm = 39
|Oct precipitation mm = 31
|Nov precipitation mm = 20
|Dec precipitation mm = 14

|Jan humidity = 69.4
|Feb humidity = 69.6
|Mar humidity = 59.4
|Apr humidity = 46.6
|May humidity = 47.2
|Jun humidity = 45.0
|Jul humidity = 43.0
|Aug humidity = 41.2
|Sep humidity = 42.5
|Oct humidity = 49.6
|Nov humidity = 58.7
|Dec humidity = 68.7
|source 1 = Weatherbase (humidity) <ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=603157&cityname=Karakol-Ysyk-K%F6l-Kyrgyzstan&units=metric
| title = The Climate of Karakol
| publisher = Weatherbase
| access-date = 31 July 2014}}
</ref>
|source 2 = Climate-Data.org (temp & precip) <ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://en.climate-data.org/location/3092/
| title = Climate: Karakol
| publisher = Climate-Data.org
| access-date = 19 May 2016}}
</ref>
}}

== Symbols of Karakol ==
[[File:Gerb of Przhevalsk 1908.png|thumb|170px|Coat of arms of Przhevalsk 1908]]
The coat of arms of the city of Przhevalsk was approved by the highest on March 19, 1908<ref>on heraldic shields. Golden bees. On the site ''«[https://rsiss.narod.ru/map_blazon.html Российские соотечественники Иссык-Куля]»''</ref> —
{{blockquote|In a black shield is a silver globe with a golden meridian and a stand, accompanied on top by a golden star with five rays. In the golden ends of the shield, scarlet ears are placed two crosswise, burdened in coverage with a natural bee. In the free part of the emblem of the Semirechensk region. The shield is crowned with a silver three-pronged tower crown and surrounded by two golden ears of corn, combined with the Alexander ribbon.|Complete collection of laws of the [[Russian Empire]]}}

The modern coat of arms and flag of the city of Karakol were approved as a result of the competition for the creation of symbols of the city (coat of arms, flag and anthem), organized in March 2007 by the city council and the mayor's office of the city.<ref>Coats of arms of Kyrgyzstan. Karakol city, Issyk-Kul region. On the ''«[https://www.heraldicum.ru/kyrgyz/towns/karakol.htm Heraldicum]»'' website.</ref> The main composition of the coat of arms and the flag consists of elements of the sun and the head of a deer with horns (symbols of the [[Buğu|Buğu tribe]]).

==Sights==

[[File:Terskei Alatoo. Karakol gorge. Alakol - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Teskei Alatoo]]
[[File:Karakol Gorge.JPG|thumb|right|Karakol gorge]]
Karakol is one of Kyrgyzstan's major tourist hubs, serving as a starting point for the hiking, trekking, skiing and mountaineering groups of the high central [[Tian Shan]] to the south and east. Additionally, the city is quite culturally-rich, with several distinct ethnic groups present, such as [[Dungan people|Dungans]], [[Kalmyks]], [[Russians]], [[Uyghurs]], [[Uzbeks]], and of course the local [[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]].

Przhevalsky’s Grave is a memorial park and small museum dedicated to Przhevalsky and others’ Russian explorations in [[Central Asia]], located about {{Convert|9|km}} north of Karakol at [[Pristan'-Przheval'sk]], overlooking the Mikhailovka Inlet of [[Issyk-Kul|Issyk Kul]] lake.  This is also where former Soviet torpedo testing facilities are located. Facilities themselves are a closed, government-accessible only area.

Karakol has Central Asia's highest [[ski resort]], with 20&nbsp;km of slopes, situated about 20 minutes from the town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://caravanistan.com/things-to-do/skiing/kyrgyzstan/karakol/|title=Skiing in and around Karakol|website=Caravanistan|language=en-US|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> Unlike [[Shymbulak]] resort, the riding at Karakol includes forest areas as well as cleared trails.

=== Russian Orthodox cathedral ===
[[File:2015-09-07-161315 - Karakol, Russisch-orthodoxe Dreifaltigkeitskirche.jpg|thumb|Karakol Russian Orthodox church]]
The cathedral was originally built of stone, in 1872,<ref name="Issyk-kul Map" /> when Karakol was a [[Garrison|garrison town]] established as an outpost on the edges of the [[Tsarist autocracy|Tsarist Russian Empire]]. It was destroyed in 1890 by earthquake, and the current cathedral was subsequently built of wood on a brick base.<ref name="Issyk-kul Map" /> It took nearly six years to complete, and was finally done in 1895.  During the period of construction, a [[yurt]] served the [[Congregational church|congregation]] as a church. The building has seen considerable usage, and not only as a church, being used for an anti-Russian uprising in 1916, during which several monks were brutally murdered.<ref name="Issyk-kul Map" />

Over the years, particularly following the [[Russian Revolution|Revolution]] in 1917, the church has been used as an educational center, at times housing a school, ladies' gymnasium, an institution of higher education, a sports venue, a theatre, a dance hall, and even a coal store. Then, in 1991 (following the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]] and the independence of Kyrgyzstan), the local authorities again gave the building back to the Church, whom assumed responsibility for all future remodeling and structural endeavors.

=== Dungan mosque ===
[[File:2015-09-07-165935 - Karakol - Dunganen-Moschee.jpg|thumb|Karakol Dungan Mosque]]
The Issyk-kul Central [[Mosque]] of Karakol was built for the local Dungan community through an initiative of Ibrahim Aji in the early 20th century. Aji commissioned  the famed [[Beijing]] architect Chou Seu, along with 20 workers (all skilled in traditional [[Chinese architecture]]), with building the mosque. The construction of outbuildings, among other projects, involved local craftsmen. Construction of the mosque itself began in 1904, lasting through 1910.<ref name="Issyk-kul Map">{{cite book|title=Lake Issyk-Kul Pamphlet and Map|publisher=Rarity Firm, LTD|location=Bishkek}}</ref> Ingenious techniques allowed the builders to construct the mosque without using nails.<ref name="Issyk-kul Map" /> The building holds 42 based pillars; encircling the building is a multi-tiered wooden [[cornice]], decorated with botanical and natural images such as grapes, pomegranates, pears and peaches. From 1929 to 1947 (during the Soviet era), the mosque was used mainly as a storehouse. In 1947, the building was given to the city’s Muslim community, from whence it has continued to function as a mosque ever since. It is registered as a historical monument and protected by law. Today, the mosque is also open to visitors domestic and foreign.

=== Przhevalsky Museum ===
{{main|Przhevalsky Museum }}
[[File:Przhevalsky museum.JPG|thumb|Przhevalsky museum]]
[[Nikolay Przhevalsky]] was one of the first Russian scientists, [[Natural history|naturalists]] and [[Geographer|geographers]] to commence detailed studies of the [[geography]], flora and fauna of the Central Asian countries. Beginning in 1870, he arranged four large expeditions through Mongolia, China and Tibet.<ref name="Issyk-kul Map"/> During these trips, he revealed the exact [[Coordinate system|coordinates]] of the mountain ranges and borders of the Tibetan Himalayas and Tian Shan ranges. He described in-detail the weather, relief, ecosystems, flora and fauna in the territories under his study; he described over 200 plant species. While on these expeditions, Przhevalsky also collected an enormous zoological collection, comprising several thousand species of plants, fungi, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes and invertebrates. In 1888, he died from [[Typhoid fever|typhoid]] fever on the eve of his fifth expedition to Central Asia; he was buried on the Issyk-Kul lakeside, not far from the city of Karakol.<ref name="Issyk-kul Map" /> The Memorial Museum of N. M. Przhevalsky was opened on 29 April 1957 in Karakol.

=== Karakol Historical Museum ===
This small museum was the pre-revolutionary summer home of the Iliana merchant family. During the turbulent years of 1918–20 the building earned its socialist stripes as headquarters of the Regional Revolutionary Committee, and was subsequently transformed into a museum by order of the Soviet Council of Ministers in 1948. Scythian artifacts include enormous bronze pots retrieved from Lake Issyk-Kul, displayed alongside exhibits on petroglyphs in the area. Besides a comprehensive display of traditional Kyrgyz punched leather work, felt wall hangings and woven yurt decorations, the museum has a colorful collection of national costumes, examples of finely worked silver jewellery and a good exhibition of Kyrgyz applied art. One hall covers the region's flora and fauna – much of which is endangered and listed in the 'Red Book' (a Soviet inventory of protected species). The museum is also worth visiting to gain a Soviet perspective of history in the region. A couple of walls relating to Kyrgyz union with Russia and the subsequent revolution are now historical artifacts in themselves.

=== Bugu-Ene Zoo ===
[[Karakol Zoological Park]] was founded in 1987. This is the only zoo in Kyrgyzstan. After the demise of the Soviet Union, the economics of the country collapsed. In 2001, closing the zoo was considered. However, sponsors were found, which allowed the captive animals to be preserved. There are Japanese macaques, bears, wolf, deer, camels, llamas, [[Przewalski's horse]], peacock, lions and many others.

=== Animal Market ===
[[File:KyrgyzGoat.jpg|thumb|A Kyrgyz Goat at the Karakol animal market]]
On early Sunday mornings, one of Kyrgyzstan's biggest farmer’s markets and live animal auctions takes place, around 2&nbsp;km north of central Karakol, with locals loading livestock in and out of the backs of [[Sedan (automobile)|sedans]] not being an uncommon sight. The setting, amid semi-derelict flour mills, might seem unprepossessing, but is valued for its space. On clear days, a backdrop of white-topped mountains is visible and is more striking from here than from the town center. A series of earthen unloading platforms lead north. Jostle through the chaos to reach a bigger main compound one block north, where horses and embossed leather [[Horse tack|saddlery]] are for sale. On foot, the bazaar is about 25 minutes' walk from City Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://caravanistan.com/kyrgyzstan/north/karakol/|title=Karakol travel guide|website=Caravanistan|language=en-US|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref>

=== Hiking and Camping ===
Karakol is popular among fans of hiking and overnight tent camping. The following hiking trails beging here: Karakol Peak, Alakul Lake, Altyn Arashan and Sary Zhaz Valley. These routes have a variety of scenery from green forests to glaciers. The best times for hiking are from June to September.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Travel To Kyrgyzstan In 2022? {{!}}Hiking Kyrgyzstan |url=https://hikingkyrgyzstan.com/ |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=hikingkyrgyzstan.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Altyn Arashan.jpg|alt=River and foggy mountains|thumb|River in hiking trail close to Karakol]]

==Sister cities==
*{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Asheville, North Carolina]], United States
*{{Flagicon|Turkey}} [[Gebze|Gebze, Kocaeli]], [[Turkey]]

{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Asia}}
*{{wikivoyage inline|Karakol}}

{{Provincial seats of Kyrgyzstan}} 
{{Districts of Kyrgyzstan}}
{{Cities in Issyk-Kul Region}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Karakol| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Issyk-Kul Region]]
[[Category:Semirechye Oblast]]
[[Category:Populated places along the Silk Road]]
[[Category:Horse trade]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Kyrgyzstan]]