Alay Range

Alay Range
Alai Range from Jiptik Valley
Highest point
Elevation	5,544 m (18,189 ft)
Dimensions
Length	350 km (220 mi) W-S
Width	20 km (12 mi) N-S
Naming
Native name	Алай тоо кыркасы(Kyrgyz)
Geography
Alay Range Location of the Alay Mountains
Countries	KyrgyzstanandTajikistan
Regions	Batken RegionandOsh Region
Range coordinates	39°40′N72°0′E

TheAlayorAlai Range(Kyrgyz:Алай тоо кыркасы;Russian:Алайский хребет) is a mountain range that extends from theTien Shanmountain range inKyrgyzstanwest intoTajikistan.It is part of thePamir-Alaymountain system. The range runs approximately east to west.Its highest summit isPik Tandykul(Russian:пик Тандыкуль), reaching 5544 m.It forms the southern border of theFergana Valley,and in the south it falls steeply to theAlay Valley.The southern slopes of the range drain into the Kyzylsuu orVakhsh River,a tributary of theAmu Darya.The streams that drain the northern slopes of the range are tributaries of theSyr Darya,and empty into the Fergana Valley to the north of the range.Pik Skobeleva,5,051 metres (16,572 ft), is also a well-known summit.European route E007:Tashkent–Kokand–Andijan–Osh–Irkeshtamcrosses the range by theTaldyk Pass.The range is also traversed byPamir highway.

Someimprecise sources seem to use the term for the whole southern curve of theTian Shancorresponding to the southern border of Kyrgyzstan, to up north until the perpendicular extension known asFergana Range,but strictly speaking the Alay Mountains are strictly north ofAlay Valley,while confusingly,Trans-Alay RangeofPamir Mountainslies to the south of that valley, as well asTurkestan RangeandZarafshan Rangeat far southwest.Pamir-Alayis collective term for many systems above, but not including any of the Pamirs.

See also

• Mount Imeon
• Trans-Alay Range