Gulcha


Gulcha is a mountain town in Osh Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is the capital of Alay District. Its population was 11,691 in 2009. The M41 highway leading south from Osh to the Alay Valley and eastern Tajikistan passes through Gulcha. The 2402m Chyrchyk Pass separates Gulcha from Osh, and the 3615m Taldyk Pass separates Gulcha from Sary-Tash in the Alay Valley. Gulcha is situated in a broad valley at the confluence of three rivers, forming the river Kurshab.

Geography

Climate

Gulcha has a hot, dry-summer continental climate. The average annual temperature is 8.9 °C. The warmest month is July with an average temperature of 22.3 °C and the coolest month is January with an average temperature of -7 °C. The average annual precipitation is 501mm. The wettest month is May with an average of 90mm of precipitation and the driest month is September with an average of 16mm of precipitation.