Kara-Balta

Kara-Balta
Flag of Kara-Balta Flag Official seal of Kara-Balta Seal
Kara-Balta Location in Kyrgyzstan
Coordinates:
Country	Kyrgyzstan
Province	Chuy Province
Elevation	789 m (2,588 ft)
Population (2009)
• Total	37,834
Time zone	UTC+6
Website	http://www.kara-balta.kg/

Kara-Balta ('black ax', Russian/Kyrgyz: Кара-Балта) is a city and municipality on the Kara-Balta River, in Chuy Province, Kyrgyzstan, the capital of Jaiyl District. It was founded in 1825 under the Kokand Khanate, and received city status in 1975 under the Soviets. Its city population was officially 37,834 in the 2009 census. The municipality had a population of 54,200 according to the Soviet 1989 census.

Kara-Balta is located on the northern slopes of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too, in the western part of Chuy Province, 62 km west of the capital of Bishkek. The road continues west through Kaindy toward Taraz, Kazakhstan. Another road goes south through the Töö-Ashuu Pass and then splits, one branch going west to Talas Province and the other south and then east through the Suusamyr valley to Balykchy on Lake Issyk Kul. It has a temperate climate. The terrain is flat, with a slight slope downwards from the south to the north.

The Chuy Valley has been settled since the Fifth Century, but after the 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.

Geography

Climate

The Köppen Climate Classification sub-type for Kara-Balta is "Dfb" or a Warm Summer Continental Climate. 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.

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 (1.886)	60.9 (2.398)	58.2 (2.291)	37.5 (1.476)	19.8 (0.78)	12.2 (0.48)	12.5 (0.492)	37 (1.46)	39.2 (1.543)	34.3 (1.35)	414.1 (16.303)
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:

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 wad stopped due to the 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 percent stake in the Kara-Balta uranium-production facility.

Transport

Highways

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

Rail

Kara-Balta is connected by rail to Bishkek and Taraz, Kazakhstan.

Sports

During the Soviet period city had a good sport infrastructure.

The city has a bandy club.

Military

In the city the Russian military has a capacity.

References

This article is based in part on material from the Russian Wikipedia.