The spring of Shokan Ualikhanov

The spring of Shokan Ualikhanov is named after the Military Officer Shokan Ualikhanov who rested there during a scientific expedition in 1856.

Shokan Ualikhanov (1835 – 1865) is regarded by many as greatest Kazakh scientist-educator, historian and ethnographer.

His Kazakh name was Mukhammedhanafia and he graduated from Omsk Military School in 1853 and was posted to serve in a regiment of the Siberian Cossack Army.

In 1856 he joined the scientific expedition led by M. M. Khomentovsky which was tasked with investigating the Kyrgyz land and map the area around Issyk Kul. It was while on this expedition that the spring which bears his name was discovered.