Family of Sites 
There is a lot going on in Bishkek and there are a lot of pleasant parks and a few wide, shaded boulevards. While walking along them looking around, in the quieter areas, you will notice the sound of a babbling brook. Look down and you will find one of Bishkek’s most interesting characteristics that no one seems to talk about: the irrigation ditches.
These ditches run throughout the downtown area of Bishkek, providing water to the major parks in the area and running along many of the major throughways. It appears that the irrigation water comes from the nearby mountains, including from Ala-Archa National Park. A raised, open canal runs from the park towards the city.
The canals all tend to be open, although some will have metal grates or stone blocks crossing over them in high-traffic or parking areas. They tend to be between 1 and 2 feet in width and about the same depth. When first seen, they appear to be incredibly ineffective due to their concrete construction, but upon closer inspection, one finds that the concrete was actually made in small blocks which have openings in the bottom and sides to let water seep into the ground near the trees and other plants to help keep the city, as it is famously known, Central Asia’s greenest.
As can be seen by the pictures, the canal system is in disrepair currently and there are many areas that simply get no water, or the water just stands still. Sometimes there are clogs in the system and water spreads out over the road or sidewalk. Garbage tends to gather in the ditches.
On the extra hot days, the canals have another task of cooling Bishkek locals, who will rest on the ground near the ditches soaking their feet in the running water. They also provide beautiful background music in the middle of a city park helping make them even more like peaceful islands in the middle of a city filled with cars who like to use their horns.
The final comment that I think can be made about the canals is their possible use in other cities. With current movements to make cities more environmentally friendly and simply greener for the health of citizens, a way of irrigating those plants has to be developed. In some areas, a simple irrigation system such as Bishkek has may be just the answer required, but more research needs to be done on this, which can only start through more awareness and appreciation of these little details in the city.
So, if you come to Kyrgyzstan, make sure to take a moment to notice the water running next to your feet or the pleasant music of the flowing water while you rest on a bench in your favorite park, appreciating the number of trees in this city.
You Might Also Like
Bishkek Shopping: A Complete Guide
Bishkek brims with shopping outlets. From large shopping malls to tiny kiosks and its traditional bazaars, from antiques to the latest fashions, this guide hopes to introduce you to some of the best opportunities that students on SRAS programs in Bishkek have found! This resource is part of the much larger SRAS Guide to Living […]
Best Coffee Shops in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Coffee culture has come to Bishkek! The Kyrgyz are becoming more discerning consumers and this can be seen in its developing food and beverage business. Below are a few of the best coffee shops in Bishkek that SRAS students have enjoyed and would like to tell you about! Sierra Coffee Multiple Locations Ever notice […]
A Vegan and Vegetarian Guide to Bishkek
Central Asian food tends to be heavy in dairy and meat. However, being vegetarian or even vegan in Bishkek is not impossible, but you should be willing to work to both check your foods and explain your needs to locals who may not understand. Below, Sophia Rhem (vegetarian) and Kathryn Watt (vegan) recount their experiences […]
Long and Winding Road from Bishkek to Osh, Kyrgyzstan
This past weekend, I visited Osh, the “southern capital” of Kyrgyzstan. I’ve always wanted to go because I heard the 620-kilometer Bishkek-Osh Highway, the only main road connecting Russia with the south of Central Asia, was gorgeous. I also wanted to see “the south.” People always talk about Kyrgyzstan’s cultural, linguistic, and political “north-south divide,” […]
The Best Asian Food in Bishkek
Bishkek has seen a wave of investment from many countries – many of them Asian. For this reason, it is not so odd to find international visitors and cuisines in Bishkek. From Indian and Chinese to Japanese and Korean, Asian food is not hard to find in the Kyrgyzstan’s capital. Below are several that students […]
