Editing Altai Mountains (section)

==Geography==
{{for|the area north of the Altai|Geography of South-Central Siberia|South Siberian Mountains}}The Altai Mountains are a system of remote mountains in central Asia that cover an area of {{convert|845,000|sqkm|abbr=on}}. The mountains stretch for {{convert|2,525|km|abbr=on}} from northwest to southeast.<ref name= "McColl">{{Cite book|last=McColl|first=R.W.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DJgnebGbAB8C&pg=PA19|title=Encyclopedia of World Geography: Volume 1|year=2014|isbn=9780816072293|pages=19|publisher=Infobase }}</ref>  [[Image:Sunset at Kucherla lake.jpg|thumb|right|[[Lake Kucherla]] in the Altai Mountains]]
[[File:2006-07 altaj belucha.jpg|thumb|[[Belukha]] mountain]]
[[Image:GoraBeluha.jpg|thumb|right|[[Belukha]], the highest mountain in Altay]] [[Image:Kazakhstan Altay.jpg|thumb|Altay Mountains, [[Kazakhstan]]]]
[[File:Утро ясное.jpg|thumb|[[Shavlo Lake]] in Northern Chuysky Range.]]

In the north of the region is the [[Sailughem Mountains]], also known as ''Kolyvan Altai'', which stretch northeast from 49° N and 86° E towards the western extremity of the [[Sayan Mountains]] in 51° 60' N and 89° E. Their mean elevation is {{convert|1,500-1,750|m|abbr=on}}. The [[snow-line]] runs at {{convert|2,000|m|abbr=on}} on the northern side and at {{convert|2,400|m|abbr=on}} on the southern, and above it the rugged peaks tower some {{convert|1,000|m|abbr=on}} higher. [[Mountain pass]]es across the range are few and difficult, the chief being the [[Ulan-daban]] at {{convert|2,827|m|abbr=on}} (or {{convert|2,879|m|abbr=on}} according to Kozlov), and the [[Chapchan-daban]], at {{convert|3,217|m|abbr=on}}, in the south and north respectively. On the east and southeast this range is flanked by the great [[plateau]] of Mongolia, the transition being affected gradually by means of several minor plateaus, such as [[Ukok plateau|Ukok]] ({{convert|2,380|m|abbr=on}}) with Pazyryk Valley, [[Chuya Steppe|Chuya]] ({{convert|1,830|m|abbr=on}}), [[Kendykty]] ({{convert|2,500|m|abbr=on}}), [[Kak plateau|Kak]] ({{convert|2,520|m|abbr=on}}), ({{convert|2,590|m|abbr=on}}), and ({{convert|2,410|m|abbr=on}}).{{sfn|Kropotkin|1911|p=758}}

This region is studded with large lakes, e.g. [[Uvs Lake|Uvs]] {{convert|720|m|abbr=on}} above sea level, [[Khyargas Lake|Khyargas]], [[Dorgon Lake|Dorgon]] and [[Khar Lake (Khovd)|Khar]] {{convert|1,170|m|abbr=on}}, and traversed by various [[mountain range]]s, of which the principal are the [[Tannu-Ola Mountains]], running roughly parallel with the Sayan Mountains as far east as the [[Kosso-gol]], and the [[Khan Khökhii]] mountains, also stretching west and east.{{sfn|Kropotkin|1911|p=758}}

The north western and northern slopes of the Sailughem Mountains are extremely steep and difficult to access. On this side lies the highest summit of the range, the double-headed [[Belukha]], whose summits reach {{convert|4,506|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|4,400|m|abbr=on}} respectively, and give origin to several [[glacier]]s and [[glaciokarst]] formations  ({{convert|30|sqkm|abbr=on}} in aggregate area, {{as of|1911|lc=yes}}).{{sfn|Kropotkin|1911|p=758}} Altaians call it Kadyn Bazhy, but is also called Uch-Sumer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eng.altai-republic.ru/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=57&page=1 |title=Altai Republic :: official portal |publisher=Eng.altai-republic.ru |date=June 30, 1999 |access-date=August 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316155209/http://eng.altai-republic.ru/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=57&page=1 |archive-date=March 16, 2012}}</ref>
The second highest peak of the range is in Mongolian part named [[Khüiten Peak]]. This massive peak reaches {{convert|4,374|m|abbr=on}}. Numerous spurs, striking in all directions from the Sailughem mountains, fill up the space between that range and the lowlands of [[Tomsk]]. Such are the [[Chuya Belki]], having an average elevation of {{convert|2,700|m|abbr=on}}, with summits from {{convert|3,500-4,177|m|abbr=on}} and several glaciers on their northern slope; the [[Katun Belki]], which have a mean elevation of about {{convert|3,000|m|abbr=on}} and are mostly snow-clad; the [[Kholzun]] range; the [[Korgon Range|Korgon]], highest point [[Mayak Shangina]], the Talitsk and Selitsk ranges; as well as the [[Tigeretsk Range]].{{sfn|Kropotkin|1911|p=758}}

Several secondary plateaus of lower elevations are also distinguished by geographers. The Valley of the [[Katun (river)|Katun river]] begins as a wild gorge on the south-west slope of Belukha; then, after a big bend, the river ({{convert|600|km|abbr=on}} long) pierces the [[Katun Belki]], and enters a wider valley, lying at an elevation of {{convert|600-1,100|m|abbr=on}}, which it follows until it emerges from the Altai highlands to join the [[Biya River]]. Here, the two rivers merge together to form the [[Ob River]].{{sfn|Kropotkin|1911|p=758}}

The next valley is that of the [[Charysh]], which has the [[Korgon Range|Korgon]] and [[Tigeretsk Range]] on one side and the [[Talitsk Range|Talitsk]] and [[Baschelaksk Range]] (Бащелакский хребет) on the other. This, too, is very fertile. The Altai, seen from this valley, presents the most romantic scenes, including the small but deep [[Kolyvan Lake]] at an altitude of {{convert|360|m|abbr=on}}, which is surrounded by fantastic [[granite dome]]s and towers.{{sfn|Kropotkin|1911|p=758}}

Farther west the valleys of the [[Uba River|Uba]], the [[Ulba]] and the [[Bukhtarma]] open south-westwards towards the Irtysh. The lower part of the first, like the lower valley of the Charysh, is thickly populated; in the valley of the Ulba is the [[Riddersk]] mine, at the foot of the [[Ivanovsk Peak]] ({{convert|2,060|m|abbr=on}}), clothed with alpine meadows. The valley of the Bukhtarma, which has a length of {{convert|320|km|abbr=on}}, also has its origin at the foot of the Belukha and the [[Katun Mountains|Kuitun]] peaks, and as it falls some {{convert|1,500|m|abbr=on}} in about {{convert|3,000|km|abbr=on}}, from an alpine plateau at an elevation of {{convert|1,900|m|abbr=on}} to the Bukhtarma fortress ({{convert|345|m|abbr=on}}), it offers the most striking contrasts of landscape and vegetation. Its upper parts abound in glaciers, the best known of which is the [[Belukha Mountain|Berel]], which descends from the [[Belukha Mountain|Belukha]]. On the northern side of the range which separates the upper Bukhtarma from the upper [[Katun River|Katun]] is the Katun glacier, which after two ice-falls widen out to {{convert|700-900|m|abbr=on}}. From a grotto in this glacier bursts tumultuously the Katun river.{{sfn|Kropotkin|1911|p=758}}

The middle and lower parts of the Bukhtarma valley have been colonized since the 18th century by runaway Russian peasants, serfs, and religious [[schism (religion)|schism]]atics ([[Raskolnik]]s), who created a free republic there on [[China|Chinese territory]]; and after this part of the valley was annexed to Russia in 1869, it was rapidly colonized. The high valleys farther north, on the same western face of the Sailughem range, are but little known, their only visitors being Kyrgyz shepherds.{{sfn|Kropotkin|1911|p=758}}

Those of [[Bashkaus River|Bashkaus]], [[Chulyshman]], and [[Chulcha]], all three leading to the alpine lake of [[Lake Teletskoye|Teletskoye]] (length, {{convert|80|km|abbr=on}}; maximum width, {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}}; elevation, {{convert|520|m|abbr=on}}; area, {{convert|230.8|sqkm|abbr=on}}; maximum depth, {{convert|310|m|abbr=on}}; mean depth, {{convert|200|m|abbr=on}}), are inhabited by [[Telengit]] people. The shores of the lake rise almost sheer to over {{convert|1,800|m|abbr=on}}. From this lake issues the Biya, which joins the Katun at [[Biysk]], and then meanders through the prairies of the north-west of the Altai.{{sfn|Kropotkin|1911|p=758}}

Farther north the Altai highlands are continued in the Kuznetsk district, which has a slightly different geological aspect, but belongs to the Altai system. But the [[Abakan River]], which rises on the western shoulder of the Sayan mountains, belongs to the system of the [[Yenisei]]. The [[Kuznetsk Ala-tau]] range, on the left bank of the Abakan, runs north-east into the government of [[Yeniseisk]], while a complexus of mountains (Chukchut, Salair, Abakan) fills up the country northwards towards the [[Trans-Siberian Railway]] and westwards towards the [[Ob River|Ob]].{{sfn|Kropotkin|1911|p=758}}

The Ek-tagh or Mongolian Altai, which separates the [[Khovd Gol|Khovd]] basin on the north from the Irtysh basin on the south, is a true border-range, in that it rises in a steep and lofty [[escarpment]] from the [[Dzungaria]]n depression ({{convert|470-900|m|abbr=on}}), but descends on the north by a relatively short slope to the plateau ({{convert|1,150-1,680|m|abbr=on}}) of north-western [[Mongolia]]. East of 94° E the range is continued by a double series of mountain chains, all of which exhibit less sharply marked [[orography|orographical]] features and are at considerably lower elevations. The slopes of the constituent chains of the system are inhabited principally by nomadic [[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]].{{sfn|Kropotkin|1911|p=758}}

The five [[List of Altai mountains|highest mountains of the Altai]] are:
* [[Belukha Mountain]] (Russia), {{convert|4,506|m|abbr=on}}
* [[Khüiten Peak]] (Mongolia), {{convert|4,374|m|abbr=on}}
* [[Mönkhkhairkhan Mountain]] (Mongolia), {{convert|4,204|m|abbr=on}}
* [[Sutai Mountain]] (Mongolia), {{convert|4,220|m|abbr=on}}
* [[Tsambagarav|Tsambagarav Mountain]] (Mongolia), {{convert|4,195|m|abbr=on}}