Kara-Balta

Coordinates: 42°50′N 73°51′E / 42.833°N 73.850°E / 42.833; 73.850
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Kara-Balta
Кара-Балта
UTC+6
Websitewww.kara-balta.kg

Kara-Balta (lit. 'black ax',

Kara-Balta River, in Chüy Region, in northern Kyrgyzstan, the capital of Jayyl District. Its population was 48,278 in 2021.[1]

Kara-Balta is located on the northern slopes of the

on Lake Issyk Kul. It has a temperate climate. The terrain is flat, with a slight slope downwards from the south to the north. As one drives from Bishkek and enters Kara-Balta by the main road, a large monument of Jayil Baatir - one of the city's main attractions - greets the driver on the right-hand side.

History

The Chüy Valley has been settled since the 5th century, but after an invasion by Genghis Khan the area was inhabited mostly by nomads and pastoralists. However, the settlement became a town and flourished under the Khanate of Kokand. It was founded in 1825 under the Khanate of Kokand, and received city status in 1975 under the Soviets.

During World War II, in 1942, the automobile battalions of the Polish Anders' Army were stationed and organized in Kara-Balta, before their evacuation from Kyrgyzstan to fight against Nazi Germany.[2]

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
197024,730—    
197946,970+7.39%
198953,887+1.38%
199947,159−1.32%
200937,834−2.18%
202148,278+2.05%
Note: resident population; Sources:[1][3]

Geography

Climate

Kara-Balta has a hot, dry-summer continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dsa). The average annual temperature is 9.7 °C (49.5 °F). The warmest month is July with an average temperature of 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) and the coolest month is January with an average temperature of -4.8 °C (23.4 °F). The average annual precipitation is 414.1mm (16.3") and has an average of 99.2 days with precipitation. The wettest month is April with an average of 60.9mm (2.4") of precipitation and the driest month is August with an average of 12.2mm (0.5") of precipitation.[4]

Climate data for Kara-Balta
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.8
(23.4)
−3.6
(25.5)
3.6
(38.5)
11.4
(52.5)
16.2
(61.2)
20.8
(69.4)
23.3
(73.9)
21.6
(70.9)
16.5
(61.7)
9.7
(49.5)
3.2
(37.8)
−1.8
(28.8)
9.7
(49.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 25.9
(1.02)
28.7
(1.13)
47.9
(1.89)
60.9
(2.40)
58.2
(2.29)
37.5
(1.48)
19.8
(0.78)
12.2
(0.48)
12.5
(0.49)
37
(1.5)
39.2
(1.54)
34.3
(1.35)
414.1
(16.30)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 9.1 9 11.3 11.1 11 8.5 6.2 4.5 4.1 7.1 8.8 8.5 99.2
Average
relative humidity
(%)
74.3 75.6 69.4 57.4 53.8 46.1 44.2 45.2 47.8 57.5 68 75.8 59.6
Source: "The Climate of Kara-Balta". Weatherbase. Retrieved 1 August 2014.

Economy

The major industry in Kara-Balta was the processing plant of the mining combine, Kara-Balta Ore Mining Combine (KBMP), the largest in Central Asia. During Soviet times, it processed uranium ore from deposits in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. After independence, the mines in Kyrgyzstan closed quickly; however, KBMP continued to process uranium concentrate from Kazakhstan until 2005 when this activity was stopped due to a lack of raw material. The massive uranium tailings remain a problem. KBMP still processes gold and molybdenum ores.

In February 2007, the Russian Renova Group won a tender to purchase the Kyrgyz government's 72.28% stake in the Kara-Balta uranium-production facility.

Transport

Highways

Kara-Balta is located along M41 on the route from Bishkek to Osh.[5][6] It is also connected by highway to Taraz, Kazakhstan.[5]

Rail

Kara-Balta is connected by rail to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and Taraz, Kazakhstan.[5]

Sports

During the Soviet period, the city had a good sport infrastructure.

The city has a bandy club. There is a football club Kara-Balta founded in 1952 that plays in Kyrgyzstan's premier league.

Military

In the city the Russian military has a capacity.[7][clarification needed]

References

  1. ^ a b "Population of regions, districts, towns, urban-type settlements, rural communities and villages of Kyrgyz Republic" (XLS) (in Russian). National Statistics Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic. 2021. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Tworzenie Armii Polskiej w ZSRS w 1941–1942" (PDF). Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (in Polish). Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  3. ^ "2009 population and housing census of the Kyrgyz Republic: Chüy Region" (PDF) (in Russian). National Statistics Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic. 2010. p. 235.
  4. ^ "Weatherbase". weatherbase.com. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Kyrgyzstan Transportation Map". lib.utexas.edu/. University of Texas. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Google Maps". maps.google.com. Google Maps. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Russischer Militärstützpunkt kann in Kirgistan entstehen – "Kommersant" | Sicherheit und Militär | RIA Novosti". Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2010-09-14.