{{Short description|Mountain range in southeastern Russia}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Sikhote-Alin | native_name = {{Native name|ru|Сихотэ́-Али́нь}} | image = Вид с Криничной.jpg | image_caption = Sikhote-Alin is the home to the Amur tiger, which is amongst the largest felines in the world<ref name=Slaghtetal2005>Slaght, J. C., D. G. Miquelle, I. G. Nikolaev, J. M. Goodrich, E. N. Smirnov, K. Traylor-Holzer, S. Christie, T. Arjanova, J. L. D. Smith, Karanth, K. U. (2005) [http://fishowls.com/Slaght%20et%20al%202005.pdf ''Chapter 6. Who's king of the beasts? Historical and recent body weights of wild and captive Amur tigers, with comparisons to other subspecies'']. Pages 25–35 in: Miquelle, D.G., Smirnov, E.N., Goodrich, J.M. (Eds.) ''Tigers in Sikhote-Alin Zapovednik: Ecology and Conservation''. PSP, Vladivostok, Russia (in Russian)</ref> | location = | highest = Tordoki Yani | elevation_m = 2090 | highest_location = Russia | map = Russia | map_caption = | map_size = | label_position = | length_km = 900 | coordinates = {{coord|45|20|N|136|10|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | width_km = 500 | embedded = {{designation list | embed=yes | designation1 = WHS | designation1_offname = Central Sikhote-Alin | designation1_date = 2001 <small>(25th session)</small> | designation1_type = Natural | designation1_criteria = x | designation1_number = [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/766 766] | designation1_free1name = Region | designation1_free1value = Europe and Asia }} }}

The '''Sikhote-Alin''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|iː|k|ə|ˌ|t|eɪ|_|ə|'|l|iː|n|}}, {{respell|SEE|kə|TAY|_|ə|LEEN}}; {{langx|ru|Сихотэ́-Али́нь}}, {{IPA|ru|sʲɪxɐˈtɛ ɐˈlʲinʲ}}) is a mountain range in Primorsky and Khabarovsk Krais in Russia, extending about {{convert|900|km|mi}} to the northeast of the Russian seaport of Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean. The highest summits are Tordoki Yani at {{convert|2077|m|ft}} above sea level, Ko Mountain ({{convert|2003|m|ft}}) in Khabarovsk Krai and Anik Mountain ({{convert|1933|m|ft}}) in Primorsky Krai.

==Geography== Sikhote-Alin is a temperate zone, though species typical of northern taiga (such as reindeer and the Ussuri brown bear) coexist with the Amur tiger, Amur leopard, and Asiatic black bear. The region holds very few wolves, due to competition with tigers.<ref name="Alin">{{cite web | url = http://www.savethetigerfund.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search1&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=559 | title = Tigers and Wolves in the Russian Far East: Competitive Exclusion, Functional Redundancy, and Conservation Implications | publisher = savethetigerfund.org | access-date = 2008-07-09 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071030100128/http://www.savethetigerfund.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search1 | archive-date = 2007-10-30 }}</ref> The longest-lived tree in the region is a millennium-old Japanese yew.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://adm.khv.ru/invest2.nsf/pages/ru/rehabcentre.htm |title=Сервер Правительства Хабаровского края - Туризм и отдых - Достопримечательности края - Туристические комплексы - Памятник природы "Сихотэ - Алинь". Центр реабилитации диких животных "УТЕС" |access-date=2007-09-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092614/http://adm.khv.ru/invest2.nsf/pages/ru/rehabcentre.htm |archive-date=2007-09-29 }} Nature Monument "Sikhote - Alin". Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation "UTES" {{in lang|ru}}</ref> It is the only known habitat of ''Sikhotealinia,'' the only living member of the beetle family Jurodidae, which have been described as the “most mysterious representatives of beetles” due to their uncertain placement within the group.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yan |first1=Evgeny V. |last2=Wang |first2=Bo |last3=Ponomarenko |first3=Alexander G. |last4=Zhang |first4=Haichun |date=2014 |title=The most mysterious beetles: Jurassic Jurodidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) from China |url=https://www.rosspiper.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Jurodidae_yan2014.pdf |journal=Gondwana Research |language=en |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=214–225 |doi=10.1016/j.gr.2013.04.002}}</ref>

Many tributaries of the Amur River lie within the range, including the Gur.<ref name=WR>[https://water-rf.ru/%D0%92%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5_%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%8A%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D1%8B/1573/%D0%93%D1%83%D1%80 Water of Russia - Гур]</ref>

The core zone can only be explored in a company of rangers.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

==History== The name might be Manchu for "coastal ridge",<ref>{{Cite web |title=Происхождение названия гор Сихотэ-Алинь |url=https://toponym.ru/gory/proishozhdenie-nazvaniya-gor-sixote-alin.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509172630/https://toponym.ru/gory/proishozhdenie-nazvaniya-gor-sixote-alin.html |archive-date=2023-05-09 |access-date=2023-05-09 |language=ru}}</ref> or Nanai for "foresty mountains".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Мельников А. В. Географические названия Дальнего Востока России |url=https://how-to-all.com/%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5:%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%8D-%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8C |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509173055/https://how-to-all.com/%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5:%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%8D-%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8C |archive-date=2023-05-09 |access-date=2023-05-09 |language=ru}}</ref>

In the 1910s and 1920s, Sikhote-Alin was extensively explored by Russian geographer and naturalist Vladimir Arsenyev (1872&ndash;1930), who described his adventures in several books, notably ''Dersu Uzala'' (1923), which in 1975 was turned into an Oscar-winning film by Akira Kurosawa. Largely due to his exploration and advocacy, the large Sikhote-Alin and Lazo wildlife refuges were set up in 1935 to preserve the region's unusual wildlife.

On 12 February 1947, one of the largest meteorite showers in recent history occurred in the mountains range. The Sikhote-Alin meteorite exploded in the atmosphere as it fell, raining many tons of metal on an elliptical region about {{convert|1.3|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} in area. Craters were formed by the meteorites; the largest was {{convert|26|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter.

In 2001, UNESCO placed "Central Sikhote-Alin" onto the World Heritage List, citing its importance for "the survival of endangered species such as the scaly-sided (Chinese) merganser, Blakiston's fish-owl and the Amur tiger". The World Heritage Site had a total area of {{convert|16319|km2|acre|abbr=on}}, of which the terrestrial core zone of Sikhote-Alin Zapovednik comprised {{convert|3985|km2|acre|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.unep-wcmc.org/medialibrary/2011/06/10/1fd22c5b/Central%20Sikhote-Alin.pdf| title = Central Sikhote-Alin - Russian Federation}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} United Nations Environment Programme</ref> In 2018, the World Heritage Site was expanded by {{convert|11605|km2|acre|abbr=on}} by including Bikin National Park under the name "Bikin River Valley".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/766bis | title=Bikin River Valley | publisher=UNESCO | access-date=3 July 2018}}</ref>

== Notable summits ==

=== Tordoki Yani === {{Infobox mountain | name = Tordoki Yani | map_size = | map_caption = Location in Khabarovsk Krai | location = Khabarovsk Krai, Russia | elevation_m = 2,090 | elevation_ref = | prominence_m = 1989 | listing = Ultra, Ribu | mapframe = no }}

Tordoki Yani or Tardoki Yani ({{langx|ru|Тордоки-Яни}}) is the highest peak of the Sikhote-Alin Mountains. It is located in the southeast of Khabarovsk Krai to the north of the border of Primorsky Krai. It is a table mountain and rises to an elevation of 2,090 m<ref>Атлас Хабаровского края, ФГУП «Дальневосточное аэрогеодезическое предприятие» 2004 год</ref><ref>Малый атлас мира {{ISBN|5-85576-095-2}}</ref> (2077 at GSE<ref>{{GSEn|102696|Сихотэ-Алинь (Sikhote-Alin)}}</ref>). The mountain is the source of the river Anyuy.<ref>[http://www.adm.khv.ru/invest2.nsf/pages/anuyriv_ru.htm Река Анюй] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221020421/http://www.adm.khv.ru/invest2.nsf/pages/anuyriv_ru.htm|date=2009-02-21}}</ref>

=== Ko Mountain === {{Infobox mountain | name = Ko Mountain | location = Khabarovsk Krai, Russia | elevation_m = 2,004 | elevation_ref = <ref>https://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=10732</ref> | prominence_m = 1196 | listing = Ribu | mapframe = no }}

Ko ({{langx|ru|Ко}}) is the second-highest point of the range. It is located in the southern part of Khabarovsk Krai near the border of Primorsky Krai, Russia.

It is {{convert|2,004|m}} above sea level.<ref>Атлас Хабаровского края, ФГУП «Дальневосточное аэрогеодезическое предприятие» 2004 год</ref> The mountain's name is from the Udege language, meaning 'witch'.<ref>Малый атлас мира {{ISBN|5-85576-095-2}}</ref>

=== Anik Mountain === {{Infobox mountain | name = Anik Mountain | map_size = | location = Primorsky Krai, Russia | relief = | label_position = right | elevation_m = 1,933 | elevation_ref = | mapframe = no }}

Anik Mountain ({{Langx|ru|гора Аник}}) is the third highest peak in the range as well as the highest peak of Primorsky Krai, Russia. It is located in the north of Primorsky Krai on the border with Khabarovsk Krai.<ref>Атлас Хабаровского края, ФГУП «Дальневосточное аэрогеодезическое предприятие» 2004 год</ref>

== Gallery == <gallery> File:Ko Mountain.jpg|Ko Mountain File:Anik mnt.jpg|Anik Mountain </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Sikhote-Alin}} {{Wikivoyage}} * [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/766 UNESCO — Sikhote-Alin World Heritage Site] *[http://www.nhpfund.org/nominations/sikhote-alin.html Natural Heritage Protection Fund: Central Sikhote-Alin] - ''at [http://www.nhpfund.org/ Natural Heritage Protection Fund]'' * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160206104603/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pbaae019.pdf Zhuravlev, Yu. N., ed. (2000) ''Стратегия сохранения биоразнообразия Сихотэ-Алиня = A Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for the Sikhote-Alin''' Vladivostok: Russian Academy of Sciences, Far Eastern Branch]

{{Clear}} {{World Heritage Sites in Russia|state=uncollapsed}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Sikhote-Alin Category:Landforms of the Russian Far East Category:World Heritage Sites in Russia Category:Landforms of Primorsky Krai Category:Mountain ranges of Khabarovsk Krai Category:Mountain ranges of Russia