Jeti-Oguz is located on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic and the southern coast of Issyk-Kul Lake, 25 kilometers to the south-west of Karakol.

The name of the valley is translated from kyrgyz language as “Seven Bulls Rocks", it stretches for 37 kilometers in the floodplain of the similarly called river on the northern slope of Terskey Ala-Too that surrounds the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Indeed, the rocks look like seven bulls.

There is a legend about the enmity of good and evil khans (kings), the evil one kidnapped wife of the good one and that unleashed inter-clan strife. Advisers have hinted the evil king to kill the captive and return her dead body to the enemy. But khan had another plan, he organized a funeral-feast, where he sacrificed seven bulls, and then killed the enemy and his wife. Blood of killed flooded the valley. Sacrificial bulls became rocks and that’s why the valley was named Jeti-Oguz.

One of the rocks of the gorge is remarkably similar to a broken heart, and is a favorite background for taking photos of lovers. There is also a legend associated with it that tells about a girl whose heart was torn with grief , because young men that fought for her love killed each other.

Nearby is a balneary resort located at 2,200 meters above sea level. Its hot hydrogen sulphide springs is rich with radon and help with rheumatism, nerve, skin and gastric diseases.

A bit above the balneary zone the canyon walls diverge and reveal a panorama of the mountains. The fir trees that grow there are amazing, they look like cypresses and reach 10 meters in height.

The upper part of the valley abuts to the vertical cliff, the center of which, rushing to the sky, splits apart on top called “Oguz Bashi” ( "Bull head"), height 5170 meters.

Near the Jeti-Oguz river there is a small zoological reserve, which is inhabited by snow leopards, wild boars, roes, grouses, pheasants and other animals.

Nearby is a yurt camp where horseback trips are organized to the mountain heights and the neighboring valley.

Photo

on map