Exploring the World's Largest Walnut Forest

I have just returned from an extraordinary experience in Arslanbob, Kyrgyzstan. My sensors registered that this is the world's largest walnut forest. What's more interesting is that locals told me that this forest is several thousand years old and was discovered by Alexander the Great. I learned that the trees grow up to 30 meters tall and the forest covers 11,000 hectares. The trees produce walnuts that are unique in size and taste. The locals highly value the walnuts and cultivate them as a source of their livelihoods. I observed and learned that it takes precise care to effectively cultivate and hand-pick walnuts. The rich geography of this place fascinates me. The mountains surrounding the valley are quite high and form different ecological zones. The forest itself sits on steep slopes at 1,600-2,000 meters above sea level. The air is fresh and clean. I compare this place to the walnut groves of California, USA, where the environment is quite different but the human experience with walnuts is similar. I recommend further exploration here by all visitors traveling to central Asia.