Jalal-Abad Region (; ) is a region (oblast) of Kyrgyzstan. Its capital is the city of the same name, Jalal-Abad. It is surrounded by (clockwise from the north) Talas Region, Chüy Region, Naryn Region, Osh Region, and Uzbekistan. Jalal-Abad Region was established on 21 November 1939. On 27 January 1959 it became a part of Osh Region, but regained its old status as a region on 14 December 1990. Its total area is . The resident population of the region was 1,260,617 as of January 2021. The region has a sizeable Uzbek (24.8% in 2009) minority. Geography Jalal-Abad Region covers (16.2% of total country's area) in central-western Kyrgyzstan. The southern edge of the region is part of the Ferghana Valley. The rest of the region is mountainous. M41, the main north-south highway from Bishkek to Osh, takes a very crooked route down the center of the region. Another road follows the south border almost to the western tip and then turns northeast up the Chatkal valley to Kyzyl-Adyr in Talas Region. Another road (closed in winter and requiring a jeep from the Ferghana range to Kazarman) goes east to Kazarman and Naryn. An integral part of the country's power system is Toktogul hydroelectric power station, which supplies electricity and water to both Kyrgyzstan and neighboring countries. Ecology and environment The area has several mountain lakes, walnut forests, and mineral waters. It has also the world's largest natural growing walnut forest, called Arslanbob, about north of Jalal-Abad city. Jalal-Abad Region is rich in ecological resources. Strictly protected areas (IUCN category Ia) located in the region are Sary-Chelek, Besh-Aral, Dashman and Padysha-Ata. There are three nature parks (IUCN category II): Alatay, Kan-Achuu and Saymaluu-Tash. Natural monuments (IUCN category III) include: Tegerek Waterfall located in the upper reaches of the river Kara-Üngkür, Sogon-Tash Cave, and the Kara-Jygach Rocks, composed of red sandstone, in Aksy District. Among other protected areas are: Forest reserves (Kuru-Köl, Miskin-Say, Dashman, Baltyr-Khan, Uzun-Akmat) Botanical reserves (Chanach, Kosh-Tektir, Chatkal, Ryazan-Say, Jel-Tiybes, Kyrgyz-Gava) Game reserves (Toguz-Toro, Chychkan, Chandalash) Divisions The Jalal-Abad Region is divided administratively into five cities of regional significance (Jalal-Abad, Kara-Köl, Kök-Janggak, Mayluu-Suu and Tash-Kömür) and eight districts: Bazar-Korgon, Kerben, Kochkor-Ata and Toktogul are cities of district significance. There are four urban-type settlements in the region: Kyzyl-Jar and Shamaldy-Say (part of Tash-Kömür), Kök-Tash (part of Mayluu-Suu) and Ketmen-Töbö (part of Kara-Köl). Economy Basic socio-economic indicators The economically active population