Altyn-Tagh

{{Short description|Mountain range}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Altyn-Tagh | other_name = Altun Mountains, Altun Shan, A'erjin Shan, A-erh-chin Shan | image = Altai, Tienschan-Orte.png | image_alt = | image_caption = Eastern part of Altun Shan at bottom of elevation map  | country_type =  | country = China | subdivision1_type = Provinces | subdivision1 = {{hlist|Xinjiang | Qinghai | Gansu}} | borders_on = {{hlist|Kunlun Mountains|Qilian Mountains}} | biome = Desert | topo_map = | topo_maker =  | highest = Sulamutag Feng | highest_location = Xinjiang | elevation_m = 6245 | elevation_system =   | coordinates = {{coord|37|55|N|87|23|E|type:mountain|format=dms|display=inline}}  | length_km = 805 | width_km = | area_km2 = | length_orientation = WSW-ENE<ref name="Cohen">{{harvnb|Cohen|1998|p= 86}}</ref> | width_orientation = | length_ref = | width_ref = | area_ref =  | range_coordinates = {{coord|38|36|N|89|0|E|type:mountain|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | range_coordinates_ref = <ref name="Cohen" />  | geology = | orogeny =  | map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map_relief = }}

'''Altyn-Tagh''',{{refn|group=nb|{{bulletedlist|{{langx|zh|阿尔金山|Ā'ěr jīnshān}}|{{langx|kk|التىن تاۋ|Altyn Tau}}|{{langx|ky|التىن توو|Altyn Too}}|{{langx|ug|ئالتۇن تاغ|Altun Tagh}}}}<ref name="EB">{{harvnb|Hoiberg|2010|p=1}}</ref>}} also called the '''Altun Mountains''', is a mountain range in northwestern China that separates the eastern Tarim Basin from the Tibetan Plateau. The western third is wholly within Xinjiang, while the eastern part forms the border between Qinghai to the south, and Xinjiang and Gansu to the north.

'''Altun Shan''', i.e. '''Altun Mountain''', is also the name of a {{convert|5830|m|ft}} mountain near the eastern end of the range, the highest point in Gansu.

== Etymology == Altyn Tag means ''Gold Mountain'' in Turkic, and Jin Shan ({{lang|zh|金山}}) is Chinese for '' Gold Mountain''.

== Geography == thumb|Altyn Tagh at dusk A series of mountain ranges run along the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, with the Kunlun Mountains located in the West. About halfway across the south side of the Tarim Basin, the Altyn-Tagh Range diverges northeast while the Kunluns continue directly east, forming a relatively narrow "V".{{refn| group=nb|See e.g. the map in Fig. 1 in Meng & Fang's ''Cenozoic tectonic development of the Qaidam Basin in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau''<ref name="Meng">{{harvnb|Meng|Fang|2008|p=2}}</ref>}} Inside the "V" are a number of endorheic basins. The eastern end of the Altyn-Shan is near the Dangjin Pass on the Dunhuang-Golmud road in far western Gansu. East of the Altyn-Tagh the border range rises to the Qilian Mountains. The range separates the Tarim Basin, to the north, and Lake Ayakkum, to the south. The range can be divided into three portions. The southwest portion borders the Kunlun Mountains and is very rugged, with peaks reaching more than {{convert|6100|m|ft}} and many perennial snow fields. The central portion is lower in elevation, around {{convert|4000|m|ft}}. The eastern portion is higher in elevation, about {{convert|5000|m|ft}} and consists of a group of smaller ranges oriented in a south-east to north-west trend.<ref name="EB" />

Along the northern side of the mountains ran the main Silk Road trade route from China proper to the Tarim Basin and westward. The Altyn-Tagh and Qilians were sometimes called the Nan Shan ('south mountains') because they were south of the main route. Near the east end of the Altyn-Shan, the Gansu or Hexi Corridor ends and the Silk Road splits. One branch follows the Altyn-Tagh along the south side of the Tarim Basin while the other follows the north side.

The southwestern part of the Altyn-Tagh range reaches snowy peaks of up to {{convert|6245|m|ft}}, although it descends to an average of {{convert|4000|m|ft}} in the narrow middle and eventually rises up to average {{convert|5000|m|ft}} as it meets the Qilian Mountains.

There are a dearth of rivers and streams in these mountains, due to the aridity of the region. The western portion has some small streams that either head north into the desert or south into Lake Ayakkum. The remainder of the range is lacking in rivers.<ref name="EB" />

== Intermontane endorheic basins == thumb|Altyn Tagh landscape Inside the V-shaped area between the Altyn-Tagh and the main Kunlun range (which in this area is called Arka-Tagh) a number of endorheic basins are located.

Within southeastern Xinjiang, the main of these basins is the Kumkol Basin ({{lang-zh|c=库木库里盆地|p=Kùmùkùlǐ Péndì}}){{refn|group=nb|The Chinese-based spelling (pinyin) for this place name, "Kumukuli Basin" is often used in English. When trying to produce a Turkic-like spelling for this name, authors occasionally transcribe it as "Kumukol Basin", as in the map in Fig. 2 in Meng & Fang's ''Cenozoic tectonic development of the Qaidam Basin in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau'',<ref>{{harvnb|Meng|Fang|2008|p=3}}</ref> but more often as "Kumkol",<ref>{{harvnb|Zheng|1997|p=229}}</ref> or "Kumkuli".}}

The two main lakes in this basin are the saline Lake Aqqikkol (also Ajig Kum Kul,<ref>{{harvnb|Holdich|2006|p=288}}</ref> Achak-kum; {{lang-zh|c=阿其克库勒湖|p= Āqíkèkùlè Hú}}; 37°05′N, 88°25′E, {{convert|4250|m|ft}} elevation)<ref name="Peakbagger"/> and Lake Ayakum ({{lang-zh|c=阿牙克库木湖|p=Āyákèkùmù hú}}; 37°30′N, 89°30′E; elevation {{convert|3876|m|ft}}).<ref name="LiBosheng" /> These lakes are two of the few noticeable bodies of water in this extremely arid area; the area around them is officially protected as the '''Altun Shan Nature Reserve'''.<ref name="LiBosheng">{{harvnb|Li|2000|pp=230–231}}</ref>

Farther east, in northwestern Qinghai, the much larger Qaidam Basin starts between the Altyn-Tagh and the Kunlun and extends almost to the east side of the plateau; the Altyn-Tagh separates the west side of this basin from the Kumtagh Desert. <!-- (old text , not from EB 1911) Running southwest to northeast, it converges with the Kunlun range in Kashmir which runs southeast to northwest forming a "V" shape which converges at Polu. The geographical divide between the highlands of Kashmir and the Tibetan Plateau commences in the vicinity of Polu and continues southwards along the ridges situate east of Rudok, wherein are situated Aling Kangri and Mavang Kangri and culminates at Mayum La, continuing into Qilian Shan to the east.

The Altyn Tagh separates Tibet from Xinjiang and the Gobi Desert. The Altyn-Tagh runs roughly {{convert|1000|km|mi}} south of Lop Lake and Dunhuang in a southwest to northeast direction, forming the boundary between the Tarim Basin to the north and the Qaidam Basin and Lake Achak-kum (one of the few noticeable bodies of water in this extremely arid area) in the south. The southwest reaches snowy peaks of {{convert|6100|m|ft}}, although it descends to an average of {{convert|4000|m|ft}} in the narrow middle and eventually rises up to average {{convert|5000|m|ft}} as it meets the Nan Shan. -->

== Major Peaks == The four highest peaks are Sulamutag Feng ({{convert|6245|m|ft}}), Yusupu Aleketag Shan ({{convert|6065|m|ft}}), Altun Shan ({{convert|5830|m|ft}}) and Kogantag ({{convert|4800|m|ft}}).<ref name="Peakbagger">{{harvnb|Peakbagger|2013}}</ref><ref name="Peaklist">{{harvnb|de Ferranti|Jurgalski|Maizlish|2011}}</ref>

== Economic development == [[File:Altyn-Tagh Aksai Jiuquan Gansu China 甘粛省阿克塞哈萨克族自治县阿尔金山脉 - panoramio (2).jpg|thumb|Altyn Mountains from Aksai County, Gansu]] China National Highway 315 crosses the Altyn-Tagh on its way between Qinghai and Xinjiang.

The Golmud-Korla Railway crosses the Altyn-Tagh as well. The project, involving the construction of the 13.195 km-long Altyn-Tagh Tunnel ({{lang|zh|阿尔金山隧道}}),<ref>[http://www.xj.xinhuanet.com/2017-10/31/c_1121885603.htm 格库铁路新疆段首条隧道顺利贯通] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043203/http://www.xj.xinhuanet.com/2017-10/31/c_1121885603.htm |date=1 December 2017 }} (The first tunnel of the Xinjiang section of the Golmud-Korla Railway has been drilled through), 2017-10-31</ref> was completed in 2020.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20201209233747/http://news.cctv.com/2020/12/09/ARTIXdmUl27k8UhpWANg7vRy201209.shtml 国家重点铁路建设项目格库铁路全线开通 (Dec, 2020))]</ref>

== Notes == {{reflist|group=nb}}

== Footnotes == {{Reflist|2}}

== References == * {{cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Cohen |editor-first=Saul B. |encyclopedia=The Columbia Gazetteer of the World |title=Altunshan |isbn=0-231-11040-5 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location=New York, NY |orig-year=1952 |year=1998 }} * {{cite web |last1=de Ferranti |first1=Jonathan |last2=Jurgalski |first2=Eberhard |last3=Maizlish |first3=Aaron |url=http://www.peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/china2.html |title=Sinkiang – Xinjiang |publisher=peaklist.com |access-date=6 Feb 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823115605/http://www.peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/china2.html |archive-date=23 August 2010 |url-status=live |year=2011 }} * {{cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Hoiberg |editor-first=Dale H. |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |title=A-erh-chin Mountains |edition=15th |year=2010 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |volume=I: A-Ak – Bayes |location=Chicago, Illinois |isbn=978-1-59339-837-8 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency}} * {{cite book |last=Holdich |first=Sir Thomas |publisher=Adamant Media Corporation |orig-year=1906 |year=2006 |title=Tibet, the Mysterious |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wz8TAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA288 |isbn=1-4212-8483-9 |series=Elibron Classic Series |editor-last=Keltie |editor-first=J. Scott }} * {{cite book |last=Li |first=Bosheng |chapter=Nature Conservation |editor1-last=Du Zheng |editor1-first=Qingsong Zhang |editor2-last=Wu |editor2-first=Shaohong |publisher=Springer Science + Business Media Dordrecht |year=2000 |isbn=978-94-010-3800-3 |title=Mountain Geoecology and Sustainable Development of the Tibetan Plateau |series=GeoJournal library |volume=57 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DuwwoxDxCYAC&pg=PA230 |doi=10.1007/978-94-010-0965-2 }} * {{cite journal |last1=Meng |first1=Qing-Ren |last2=Fang |first2=Xiang |editor-last=Burchfield |editor-first=B. C. |editor2-last=Wang |editor2-first=Erchie |title=Cenozoic Tectonic Development of the Qaidam Basin in the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau |journal=Special Paper – Geological Society of America |publisher=Geological Society of America |year=2008 |doi=10.1130/2008.2444(01) |volume=444 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BligM888ki0C&pg=PA1 |pages=1–24 |isbn=978-0-8137-2444-7 |url-access=subscription }} * {{cite web |author=Peakbagger |url=http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=471 |title=Altun Shan |year=2013 |access-date=6 Feb 2014 }} * {{cite book |last=Zheng |first=Mianping |publisher=Springer |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-7923-4098-0 |title=An introduction to saline lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau |series=Monographiae Biologicae |volume=76 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NvD-RMX58cIC&pg=PA229 }}

== Further reading == * {{cite book |title=National Geographic Atlas of China |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4262-0327-5 |publisher=National Geographic |location=Washington, DC}}

== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110610042005/http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/LLSearch.pl?lrlat=37.0&ullat=38.0&ullon=88.8&lrlon=89.8&filters=simple NASA photos of Ayakkum Lake] and surrounding area

Category:Highest points of Chinese provinces Category:Mountain ranges of Gansu Category:Mountain ranges of Xinjiang Category:Ultra-prominent peaks of Asia