LocationsAvalanche Station "Dolon": Revival of the Guardian of the Mountains of Kyrgyzstan
June 30, 2025
High above sea level, among the picturesque landscapes of the Son-Kul Range, where clouds and snow-capped peaks meet, a legend has come to life again. The avalanche station "Dolon", built in 1946, is not just a technical facility - it is a symbol of care for life and safety on the mountain passes of Kyrgyzstan.
It was here, in this picturesque but harsh corner of the country, that the cult Soviet film "I am Tien Shan" was filmed, inspired by Chingiz Aitmatov's story "My Poplar in a Red Scarf". And it was here, decades after desolation, that the station found a second life - thanks to a UNDP project, with the support of the Japanese government.
The avalanche station "Dolon"
Since 2020, regular meteorological observations have been resumed, and in 2023, the official opening of the updated station took place. Modern equipment allows us to receive critical data every three hours — temperature, precipitation, wind, snow cover. All data is transmitted to response services in real time.
"Our task is to monitor avalanche-prone areas daily," says the head of the station Nurbek Isabaev. "Every ten days we conduct in-depth studies in the most dangerous areas, measure the snow cover, its density, structure and temperature. Based on this data, we predict the likelihood of avalanches."
The station monitors 17 avalanche-prone areas on the busy Bishkek-Naryn-Torugart highway, including the most difficult Kyzyl-Bel pass. Dangerous areas on the Aksai-Torugart, Aktalaa-Kazarman and other roads are also under surveillance. During snowfalls and increased avalanche danger, Dolon promptly transmits information to the relevant services. If necessary, sections of roads are temporarily closed to prevent tragedies, especially in the winter months, when trucks from China travel along the highway every day.
The avalanche station "Dolon"
"Thanks to the UNDP project, the station was not just revived, but became modern and high-tech. An automatic meteorological station was installed, which transmits data on the most important parameters in real time. We received new equipment, machinery, gear and transport. New buildings were built: an office, a utility block and a reservoir unit," notes Nurbek Isabaev.
Considering that avalanches are the main cause of disasters in mountainous areas, reliable monitoring plays a key role in ensuring safety. This is why UNDP, with the support of the Government of Japan, is helping Kyrgyzstan strengthen the early warning and risk response system. New avalanche stations are being built, equipped with modern equipment for precise measurements and round-the-clock monitoring.
The station's work does not stop in the summer: employees study glaciers, monitor lakes that can burst in the event of melting. Climate change is becoming more and more noticeable: avalanches are becoming fewer, but the risks are only growing.
“The climate is changing before our eyes. If before there was a lot of snow and frequent avalanches, then in 2023-2024 there were almost none,”says Nurbek Isabaev.
Early warning of dangerous hydrometeorological phenomena and timely measures can mitigate and reduce the consequences of natural disasters, reduce human casualties and economic damage. The operation of the Dolon station, like others built within the framework of the project, is an important link in ensuring the safety of people and transport on the mountain roads of Kyrgyzstan.
With the support of Japan, UNDP strengthened the preparedness of the Kyrgyz Republic for natural disasters and regional cooperation by improving early warning infrastructure and institutional capacity. As part of this initiative, three avalanche monitoring stations were built and fully equipped in Dolon, Chapchym and Bashky-Terek, providing real-time risk data in high-risk areas.
To enhance emergency response capabilities, 22 specialized vehicles were deployed and over 100 specialists were trained in GIS and remote sensing technologies. The National Population Alert System was expanded to three regions, and the Unified Crisis and Emergency Information Management System was expanded to optimize response coordination.
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