Tokmok

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Tokmok
native_name =Токмак

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image_caption = Airplane monument in Tokmok


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pushpin_label_position =bottom
pushpin_mapsize = 300
pushpin_map_caption =Location in Kyrgyzstan
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Province
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subdivision_name1 = Chui Province
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population_as_of=2005
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population_total = 60,654
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latd=42|latm=50|lats=|latNS=N
longd=75|longm=17|longs=|longEW=E
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elevation_m = 816
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Tokmok ( _ky. Токмок, "Tokmok"; _ru. Токмак, "Tokmak") is a city of about 60,654 (2008) (according, to other data, "over 58,000" [ [http://chuy.in.kg/html/rus/tokm.htm Город Токмок] (City of Tokmok) ru icon] ) in northern Kyrgyzstan, east of the country's capital of Bishkek. Its geographical location is coord|42|50|N|75|17|E|region:KG_type:city(75,000); its altitude is 816 m above sea level. From 2004 until 19 April 2006 it served as the administrative seat of Chui Province.

Tokmok was established as a northern military outpost of the Khanate of Kokand ca. 1830. Thirty years later, it fell to the Russians who demolished the fort. The modern town was founded on 13 May 1864 by Colonel Mikhail Chernyayev.

Currently, the city of Tokmok is a district-level administrative unit of Chui Province. Although the city is surrounded by the province's Chuy District (whose administrative center is the village of Chuy, adjacent to Tokmok), it is not a part of it.

Medieval heritage

Despite its relatively modern origin, Tokmak stands in the middle of the Chui valley, which was a prize sought by many medieval conquerors. The ruins of Ak-Beshim, the capital of the Western Turkic Khaganate, are situated 8 km southwest from Tokmok. The Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai is thought to have been born in this area, as was Yusuf Has Hajib Balasaguni, author of the Kutadgu Bilig.

About 15 km south of Tokmok is the 11th-century Burana Tower, located on the grounds of an ancient citadel of which today only a large earthen mound remains. This is believed to be the site of the ancient city of Balasagun, founded by the Sogdians and later for some time the capital of the Kara-Khanid empire. A large collection of ancient gravestones and bal-bals is nearby. Excavated Scythian artifacts have been moved to museums in St. Petersburg and Bishkek.

ee also

* Suyab

References

External links

* [http://www.tokmok.strana.de]