Naryn is a provincial administrative center in the Naryn Oblasty, with a population of about 40,000, in central Kyrgyzstan, situated on both sides of the Naryn River , one of the main head waters of the Syr Darya, which cuts a picturesque gorge through the town.

Economy

The economy of Naryn oblast is dominated by animal herding (sheep, horses, yaks), with wool and meat as the main products. Mining of various minerals developed during the Soviet era has largely been abandoned as uneconomical.

Transportation

From Naryn, the main road (one of the branches of the ancient Silk Road) through the sparsely settled central Kyrgyz highlands leads to Torugart Pass and China. At present, this is the main transport link from Kyrgyzstan to China.