Chuya Steppe
Russia · Europe
About
The Chuya Steppe (Russian: Чуйская степь) in the Siberian Altai Mountains is a depression formed by tectonic movement of major faults in the Earth's crust. Its name comes from the large river which runs through the steppe, the Chuya River.
Kosh-Agach is a major village in the north of the steppe. Other large settlements include Chaganuzun and Beltir.
The Chuya Steppe is filled with Cenozoic sediments, derived from the surrounding mountains of the Chuya Belki.
The 7.3 Mw Altai earthquake shook South Central Siberia with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), causing $10.6–33 million in damage, three deaths, and five injuries.
Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.