Bishkek
Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan and a major trading stop along the ancient Silk Road, is set at the foot of Central Asia's Tian Shan Mountains range, 800 meters above sea level. It is the gateway to the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range, which stretches 454 kilometres from the west of Issyk-Kul Lake to the city of Taraz in southern Kazakhstan. The Ala Archa National Park, with its glaciers and wildlife trails, lies around 40 kilometers south of Bishkek.