Isfana Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Isfana Исфана
The sign in the northwestern corner of Isfana
Country	Kyrgyzstan
Province	Batken Province
Town	2001
Area
• City	2.52 km² (0.97 sq mi)
Elevation	1,320 m (4,330 ft)
Population (2009)
• City	27,962
• Urban	18,244
Time zone	UTC+6
Area code(s)	+996 3656
Website	http://www.isfana.org/

Isfana is a small town located at the extreme western end of Batken Region in southern Kyrgyzstan. Isfana is situated at the southern fringe of the Fergana Valley in a region surrounded on three sides by Tajikistan.

The word "isfana" is believed to have come from the Sogdian word "asbanikat", "asbanikent" or "aspanakent" which means "the land of horses". Isfana has been inhabited since at least the 9th century. It underwent significant changes during the Soviet period. The selsoviet (rural council) of Isfana was established in 1937. The selsoviet was transformed into a village administration in 1996. In 2001, Askar Akayev issued a presidential decree to make Isfana into a town.

Isfana is the administrative center of Leilek District. The villages Myrza-Patcha, Samat, Chimgen, Taylan, Ak-Bulak, and Golbo are also governed by the Isfana Mayor's Office. According to data published on the town's official website, the population of Isfana and the subordinated villages is about 28,085. The population of Isfana itself is about 18,200.

Geography
Climate
Images for kids
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Geography

Isfana is located in the western part of Batken Region at an altitude of 1,320 meters above sea level. The town is surrounded by mountains on three sides. The mountains are within a few kilometers from the city. The highest of these are the mountains of the Turkestan Range, which is a northern extension of the Pamir-Alay system of mountain ranges.

Climate

The climate of Isfana is sharply continental with cold winters and hot summers. The spring and fall see significant rainfall, while the summers are hot and dry. There are many dryland wheat and barley fields in the Isfana area that depend on winter snow and spring rain to produce good crops.

Summers are long in Isfana, usually lasting from May to September. Isfana can be extremely hot during the summer months. The town also sees very little precipitation during the summer, particularly from June through September.