Low-Mountain Areas Saryarka, or Kazakh Low Hill Land, occupies the largest part in Central Kazakhstan. In the west it is adjacent to Turgai plateau and Turan lowland, in the east it connects with the mountain system Saur-Tarbagatai, in the north it borders on the Western-Siberian valley, in the south – with Balkhash Lake and Betpakdala. Saryarka stretches from the west to the east for 1,200 km. In the west its width reaches 900 km, and in the east it is 350 km. The average height is 500-600 m. The highest mountains in the eastern part of Saryarka are Aksorgan (1,565m), Karkaraly mountains (1,403m), Chingiztau (1,305m), in the western part – Ulytau (1,133m), as well as low mountains of Saryarka (in Kokshetau, in Bayanaul etc.) Mountains in Karkaraly, Bayanaul and Kokshetau are especially picturesque. Sharpened by the wind and rains, rocks captivate with the fantastic shapes. Here you can see beautiful “towers”, “castles”, “sleeping knight”, “horseman” and magnificent “sphinx” that rises from the depths of the lake. The mirrors of blue transparent lakes shine between the mountains. Pine-trees and birches, famous “Zhumbaktas”, the rock-enigma, peaks of Kokshetau fabulously decorate them. That is why these places are called “Kazakh Switzerland”. Mugodzhary are located to the south from the Ural Mountains and are their natural continuation. In contrast to the Ural Mountains, Mugodzhary have gently sloping eastern and steep western slopes. Mugodzhary stretch from the north to the south for 450 km. Between the parallel to each other western and eastern ridges there is Bershogyr Depression (width is 15-20 km). In some places you can meet low hill lands. The highest area is Large Boktybai (657 m). Mangystau Mountains are located on Mangystau peninsula in the Caspian Sea. It includes western and eastern ridges of Karatau, as well as southern and northern ridges of Aktau. The length of Karatau is 117 km, of Aktau is 70 km. They are divided with ravines, logs and narrow gorges. The highest point of Mangystau Mountains is in the ridge of Karatau. It is Bes-Shoky (556 m). These mountains are formed with sandstones, crystal slates, black (Karatau) and white (Aktau) limestone. In the southern part of Mangystau Mountains there is Karagie Depression, or Batyr (- 132 m). This is the lowest point in Kazakhstan. It takes the fifth position in the world after the Dead Sea (-395 m) in Israel, Turfan Depression (- 154 m) in China, Assal Lake (-150 m) in Djibouti (Africa), waterless Quattara depression (-133 m) in Egypt. High-Mountain Areas Altai is the part of the largest mountain system named Altai-Sayan Mountains, the borders of which extend from Zaisan Lake to Baikal Lake. Kazakhstan has only its south-western part. The southern border is the basin of Black Irtysh River and Zaisan Lake, and the western border is Kalbinsky Ridge. According to the relief peculiarities, Kazakh Altai is divided into three areas: Southern Altai, Rudny Altai and Kalbinsky Ridge. Western, or Rudny Altai comes into the territory of Kazakhstan with the western branches of Altai Mountains. Rudny Altai consists of Ulbinsky (2300 m), Ivanovsky (2775 m), Ubinsky (2100 m) mountain ridges, which are located on the north-west of Southern Altai. They stretch from the mountain ridge Katun and Ukok upland. The eastern part of Western Altai is greatly divided and represents high-mountainous area, on the tops of which there is eternal snow and glaciers. In the depths of Western Altai a lot of natural resources can be found: copper, zinc, stannum, lead, tungsten, silver, gold and other metals. That is why Western Altai is called Rudny Altai (Ore Altai). Kalbinsky Ridge is the continuation of Altai Mountains and it stretches for 400 km to the west from Yertys River. The highest point is Saryshoky (1606 m). To the west the ridge gradually declines and merges with Saryarka. Saur-Tarbagatai together with the neighbouring ridges forms the single mountain system. It is the continuation of Saryarka in the east. Saur-Tarbagatai is located between Zaisan basin in the north and Alakol basin in the south. Saur’s highest point is Muztau (3816 m). On the territory of Kazakhstan there is only its northern slope. On the tops there are glaciers. Tarbagatai in comparison with Saur is lower but longer, it stretches for 300 km. The highest point is Tastau (2992 m). There are no glaciers on the tops. Zhungar Alatau is located in the eastern part of Kazakhstan and it has continuation from the west-south-west to the east-north-east along the border of Kazakhstan and China between Ili River and Alakol Lake. On the east it is delimited with Zhungar Gates from the ridges of Barlyk and Maily located on the territory of China, on the south it is separated from Tien Shan by the Valley of Ili River. Total length of Zhungar Alatau is about 400 km. Tien Shan mountain country occupies the south-east of Kazakhstan. Parts of Central and Western Tien Shan and almost whole Northern Tien Shan enter the territory of the republic. Central Tien Shan starts at the junction of the state borders of China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The highest point of Kazakhstan is located here. It is Khan-Tengri peak (6995 m). Khan-Tengri Peak (Master of Spirits), the highest point in Kazakhstan (6995 m), is considered to be one of the most beautiful peaks in Central Tien Shan. Marmoreal top in the shape of the pointed pyramid can be seen almost from everywhere. There are many legends about this mountain from the ancient times. It is also called Tengritau (God’s Mountain) or Kantau (Blood Mountain) for the red colour that the tope gets during the sunset. This is the most northern above-seven-thousand-meters mountain. Khan-Tengri Peak is hard to access, that is why it bears interest for mountain-climbers and for those who like adventurous tourism. The northern part of the mountain belongs to Kazakhstan. Climbing along “Northern Wall of Khan-Tengri” is a cherished dream of many climbers. There are several ridges going to the west from Khan-Tengri massif. The largest is Terskei Alatau. Along its eastern branch Kazakhstan borders on Kazakhstan. Northern Tien Shan includes Ketmen, Kungei Alatau, Ile Alatau ridges, Chu-Ile mountains (Zheltau, Aitau) and Kyrgyz Alatau. Ketmen Ridge is separated from Central Tien Shan by the highly raised depression (up to 2300m). Ketmen in the form of the absolute mountain upland stretches to the south from Ili Valley. The highest point is Nebesnaya Mountain (3652 m). Kungei Alatau enters Kazakhstan with the northern slopes of its eastern part. It is one of the highest ridges in Tien Shan (Ishanbulak peak is 4647 m). Northern slopes of Kungei Alatau are greatly divided by the waters of Chilik and Kemin rivers. Ile Alatau is the most northern high-mountainous ridge of Tien Shan. It is stretched from the east to the west for 350 km. Ile Alatau is divided into the western, central and eastern parts. The highest mark in the mountain system is Talgar peak (5017 m). Modern glaciation is widely developed in the central part of the ridge. Vertical profile of Ile Alatau is characterized by the tiered structure. High-mountain tier that has alpine relief shapes differs with its extremely deep ruggedness (area of Talgar peak, Komsomol Peak). Chu-Ile Mountains go to the north-west from Ile Alatau. These are greatly ruptured ancient mountains, formed with sedimentary and igneous rocks. Kyrgyz Alatau is located to the west from Kungei Alatau and Ile Alatau. It is separated for them by Boam Gorge of Chu River. Only northern slopes of the western part of the ridge belong to Kazakhstan. Western Tien Shan on the territory of Kazakhstan starts from Talas Alatau and ridges that branch from it towards south-west. The largest of them are Ugam and Korzhyntau. Talas Alatau comes to Kazakhstan partially, with its western side. Karatau is located on the territory of Kazakhstan. It is the utmost, greatly ruptured north-western ridge of Tien Shan. Belukha Mountain (4506 m), the highest peak in Altai and Siberia, is located in the north-east of East Kazakhstan on the border of Kazakhstan and Russia. Slopes of its two-head top are covered with eternal snow and glaciers (Berelsky, Katunsky etc.) on the area of around 70 km2. 22-02-07 04:24:31
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