Talas
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Talas is a small town in northwestern Kyrgyzstan, beautifully located in a long valley between two imposing mountain ranges. Its geographical location is 42°31′ N 72°14′ E (http://kvaleberg.com/extensions/mapsources/index.php?params=42_31_N_72_14_E_region:KG_type:city(32,538)). Population is 32,538 (1999). It is the administrative headquarters of an administrative district ("oblast") of the same name. Its economy traditionally oriented towards the Kazakh city of Djambul, the Talas valley has suffered severely from the imposition of rigid border controls by Kazakhstan following the demise of the Soviet Union, as transport and trade links to the rest of Kyrgyzstan are now constrained by the formidable mountains separating it from the Chui Valley and Bishkek.
The mythical Kyrgyz national hero Manas is said to have been born in the Ala Too mountains in Talas oblast. A few kilometers outside of Talas lies a mausoleum for Manas. It contains a museum dedicated to the epic. A ceremonial mound also lies nearby.
The Talas River was the site (and name) of a famous battle in 751, fought between China and the Muslims. The Muslims won. This battle began a precipitous decline from China's greatest golden age. It also brought paper to the west, by the Arabs' capture of a Chinese paper maker.
