Bishkek Irrigation Canals

One of the various types of bridges you can find crossing Bishkek's irrigation system.

Bishkek Irrigation Canals

Published: August 2, 2015

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

Barakan Madrassah uzbekistan tashkent

Guide to Travel to Tashkent

My Central Asian Studies Program with SRAS in Bishkek included a fantastic 9-day trip to the major Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan—Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand—which was book-ended by visits to Tashkent. At the end of my program, I made the trip to the capital of Uzbekistan again, this time independently. I stayed there for three […]

Share on Social Media
0 comments
Student budgets abroad Europe Central Asia

Study Abroad Budgets: A Student Guide

Eurasia today is quite affordable. Students are often surprised how far their dollars will go even in major cities like Warsaw – and very surprised at how far they go in places like Bishkek. However, students can also be surprised at how easy it is to run into troubles – like blocked bank cards or […]

Share on Social Media

16 Ways Studying Abroad is Just Like Harry Potter

Did you ever stop to think about the fact that, technically, Harry Potter was also studying abroad? Here are 16 ways that Harry’s adventures are likely to be just like yours.   1. When you first decide you’re going abroad, you’re in a state of shock- you can hardly believe it’s real! 2. Getting on […]

Share on Social Media

Top Ten Reasons Americans Should Visit Turkmenistan

This past week, I took a break from Kyrgyzstan and spent a few days traveling through Turkmenistan, visiting the cities of Ashgabad, Mary, Merv, Geok-Tepe, and Turkmenabad. This trip was arranged by The School of Russian and Asian Studies and The London School of Bishkek for participants of The Central Asian Studies study abroad program. […]

Share on Social Media
Seven Western-Style Fast Food Places in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Best Burgers and Pizza in Bishkek: Homesick in the Kyrgyz Capital

While abroad, it’s natural to get a bit homesick and start craving the comfort foods we are used to. While we recommended that you dive into the local culture as much as possible, sometimes seeing foreign takes on American classics can be interesting and educational… right? Here’s a list of six fast food places that […]

Share on Social Media
0 comments
Share on Social Media

About the author

Ian Walker profile picture

Ian Walker

Ian Walker graduated from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada May of 2015 with a degree in Philosophy and a minor in Law & Society. At the time he wrote for this site, he was studying Russian as a Second Language with SRAS in Bishkek while serving an SRAS-arranged internship at a local NGO to learn more about non-profit work and international community development. He hoped to start Peace Corps service in the following year or two to continue his career in community development.

Program attended: Challenge Grants: Funding for Study Abroad

View all posts by: Ian Walker