Khrebet Atbashi

About

The At-Bashy Range (Kyrgyz: Ат-Башы тоо кыркасы) is a mountain range in the south part of the internal Tien-Shan. The range is located in At-Bashy District of the Naryn Region in Kyrgyzstan. The length of the range is 140 km (87 mi) and the width of the range is 30 km (19 mi). The highest parts of the At-Bashy Range, with elevations of more than 4,500 m (14,800 ft), are in its middle part while lower elevated parts, below 4,000 m (13,000 ft), are in the west and in the east. The average height is around 4,280 m (14,040 ft) with the highest point of 4,786 m (15,702 ft).

The central crest area of the ridge is above the snowline. The slopes are cut by short deep transverse gorges with frequent occurrence of glaciers. The range is composed of limestone and schist of Paleozoic age. The landscapes at southern slopes are: Alpian and sub-Alpian at 3,600–3,900 m (11,800–12,800 ft), and Alpine tundra at 3,900–4,300 m (12,800–14,100 ft); at northern slopes: mountain steppes at 2,400–2,700 m (7,900–8,900 ft), mountain meadows at 2,700–3,000 m (8,900–9,800 ft), sub-Alpian and Alpian at 3,400–3,600 m (11,200–11,800 ft), and tundra at 3,800–4,000 m (12,500–13,100 ft); and at western slopes: stony, steppe, sub-Alpian and tundra.

Several rivers taking their rise from the south slopes of the At-Bashy Range form Aksay river, right tributary of Kakshaal River (Toshkan River). Among those rivers are Keng-Suu, Kosh Kara-Tash, Muzdabas, Tuyuk Bogoshtu, Jol Bogoshtu, Kashka-Suu and Tuyz Ashuu. Kara-Koyun River, left tributary of At-Bashy, rises from the northern slopes of the At-Bash Range.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.