town, capital of Ysyk-Köl oblasty (province), Kyrgyzstan. It is a port located on the western shore of Lake Ysyk (Ysyk, Lake) (Issyk-Kul) and is linked to Frunze, about 87 miles (140 km) north-northwest. Balykchy's economy centres on a food industry, including meat-packing and cereal processing, and the town serves as a major transportation centre, with a shipyard. Pop. (1999) 41,342.