Tien Shan - heavenly seven-thousander mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Tien Shan mountains

Peak, Semyonov glacier, Semyonov ridge, Talgar.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .

TIAN SHAN

mountain system in Middle and Central. Asia. Length from 3. to E. 2500 km, the highest point is Pobeda Peak. Alpine folding, the remains of ancient leveled surfaces have been preserved at an altitude of 3000-4000 m in the form of syrts. Modern tectonic activity is high, earthquakes are frequent. The mountain ranges are composed of igneous rocks, the basins are composed of sedimentary rocks. Deposits of mercury, antimony, lead, cadmium, zinc, silver, in the basins - oil. The relief is predominantly alpine, with glacial forms, scree, above 3200 m permafrost is common. There are flat intermountain basins (Fergana, Issyk-Kul, Naryn). The climate is continental, temperate. Snowfields and glaciers. The rivers belong to the basins of internal flow (Naryn, Ili, Chu, Tarim, etc.), lakes. Issyk-Kul. Song-Kel, Chatyr-Kel. Altitudinal zonation. FLORIDA, peninsula in the south-east. Sev. America between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Low swampy plain up to 99 m high, composed mainly of limestone, karst is developed. The climate is oceanic. Lots of lakes and swamps. Forests of pines, magnolias, palm trees, mangroves along the coasts. To the east coast numerous resorts (Miami), Cape Canaveral East. test site with the Space Center. J. F. Kennedy.

Brief geographical dictionary. EdwART. 2008 .

Tien Shan

(Chinese - "heavenly mountains"), a mountainous country in Centre. Asia. Zap. h. is located on the territory of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, east. h. - in China. It extends in the latitudinal direction for 2450 km between 40 and 45 ° N, 67 and 95 ° E. On S. through Mt. Boro-Khoro connects with Dzungarian Alatau , in the south is associated with Alai ridge. mountain system Hissar-Alay. Zap. T.-Sh. from the north it is bounded by the Ili basin, from the south - Ferghana Valley , Vost. T.-Sh. - respectively Dzungarian basin and Tarim Plain . Consists of mountain ranges, elongated preim. in latitudinal and sublatitudinal directions; only on the border with China does the Meridional Ridge extend. with the highest peaks of T.-Sh.: Pobeda peak (7439 m) and Khan-Tengri (6995 m). On SZ. T.-Sh. there are ridges Ketmen , Zailiysky Alatau , Kungei-Ala-Too and Kyrgyz; on the app. tip stands out Talas Alatau with adjoining ridges Chatkal, Pskemsky, Ugamsky and Karatau , to the center. hours, south of Issyk-Kul basin ridges lie Fergana, Kokshaaltau , Terskey-Ala-Too and the Ak-Shyirak massif, as well as the shorter ranges of Borkoldoy, Dzhetim-Bel, At-Bashi and etc.
In Vost. T.-Sh. two bands of mountain ranges are clearly expressed, separated by a latitudinally elongated band of valleys and basins. The height of the main ranges is 4000–5000 m, some peaks rise to 6500 m or more. All in. the chain includes the ridges: Boro-Khoro, Iren-Khabyrga, Bogdo-Shan, Barkeltag, Karlyktag. South the mountain chain is shorter, it includes the ranges located on the border with China Ketmen , Meridional, as well as Halyktau, Narat, Saarmin, Kuruktag. At the foot of the East T.-Sh. situated Turfan basin .
Relief preim. alpine, high-mountainous with glacial forms, grandiose taluses on the slopes, permafrost is widespread above 3200 m, leveled spaces - syrts are not uncommon at altitudes of 3000–4000 m. In the middle and low mountains there are mudflow cones. At the foot of many ridges there are bands of foothills (counters, or adyrs). Intermountain ( Fergana, Issyk-Kul, Naryn, etc.) and marginal (Chui, Talas, Ili, etc.) depressions have flat or slightly hilly bottoms with wide river valleys, lakes and swamps. Frequent earthquakes. Many minerals: mercury, antimony, lead, zinc, silver, tungsten, phosphorite, miner. water; in the basins - deposits of oil (in particular in the Ferghana Valley), brown and stone. coal.
The climate is sharply continental. Main hours of mountains lies in the temperate zone, the ranges of the south-west. hours are influenced by dry subtropics. In the bottom belt of mountains July temperatures 20–25 ° С, on Wednesday. belt 15–17 °С, at the foot of the glaciers 5 °С and below. Avg. the January temperature is -6 °С and below, thaws are possible in the middle mountains. Precipitation in the foothills and intermontane depressions is from 300 mm, in the highlands up to 1000 mm per year or more. There are many snowfields, the mountains are avalanche-prone. Extensive glaciation: within the Middle Asian countries, there are approx. 7600 glaciers with a total area 7310 km², approx. 8900 glaciers on the square. 9190 km². Numerous are valley, cirque and hanging glaciers, and in Int. T.-Sh. - flat top glaciers. The largest glaciers (South and North. Engilchek , Kaindy , Mushketova) of the dendritic type. Rivers T.-Sh. belong to internal bass Centre. Asia: Naryn , Sary Jazz , Syrdarya , Or , Chu , Tarim , Konchedarya . Lakes are located in intermountain depressions Issyk-Kul , Bagrashköl , Song-kyul , Chatyr-Kol , Bar-Kel. The altitudinal zonality of landscapes is clearly expressed. On the piedmont plains and in the low foothills there are semi-deserts or desert steppes with ephemeral vegetation. Above 900–1200 m, grass-forb steppes in the north and tall-grass semi-savannas in the south. Above 1200–2000 m, meadow steppes, thickets of shrubs, and deciduous forests; above 2,000 m, coniferous forests (spruce and fir). At altitudes of 2800–3400 m - subalpine and alpine meadows, predominantly. to the sowing slopes; on syrts - landscapes of cold deserts. Above 3600–3800 m landscapes of the nival-glacial belt, eternal snow and ice. In the foothill and low-mountain regions of T.-Sh. goitered gazelle, polecat, tolai hare, ground squirrel, jerboa, etc.; in the middle mountains - wild boar, lynx, brown bear, badger, wolf, fox, marten, roe deer, etc.; in the highlands - marmot, vole, mountain goat (teke), mountain sheep (argali), ermine, occasionally snow leopard. Reserves: Issyk-Kul, Almaty, Aksu-Dzhabagly , Sary-Chelek, Chatkal, Besh-Aral and others.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Tien Shan

mountain country in Central Asia. Zap. part is located on the territory. Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, east. some are in China. Located between 40 and 45 ° N. latitude, 67 and 95 ° in. etc., stretching in the latitudinal direction for 2450 km, including within the boundaries of the Central Asian states for 1200 km. On S. through Mt. Boro-Khoro connects with the Dzungarian Alatau, in the south it is connected with the Alai Range. mountain system of Gissar-Alay. The Western Tien Shan is bounded in the north by the Ili Basin, and in the south of the Ferghana Basin, the Eastern Tien Shan by the Dzhungar and Kashgar Basins, respectively. Consists of mountain ranges, elongated mainly in the latitudinal and sublatitudinal direction; only on the border with China passes the Meridional ridge. with the highest peaks of the Tien Shan: the peak of Tomur, or Pobeda (7439 m), and Khan-Tengri (6995 m). The Chinese name for the Tien Shan is "Heavenly Mountains".

In the Eastern Tien Shan, two bands of mountain ranges are clearly expressed, separated by a latitudinally elongated band of valleys and basins. Height Ch. ridges 4000–5000 m, some peaks rise to 6500 m or more. Sev. the mountain range stretches from the south. spurs of the Dzungarian Alatau to the west. outskirts of the Gobi. It includes the ridges: Boro-Khoro, Eren-Khabirga, Bogdo-Ula, Barkeltag, Karlyktag. South the mountain chain is shorter, it includes the Ketmen, Meridional ridges located on the border with China, as well as Khalyktau, Narat, Saarmin, Kuruktag. At the foot of the East Tien Shan is located Turfan depression with a bottom 155 m below sea level. m.
The relief is predominantly alpine, high-mountainous, with glacial forms, on the slopes there are grandiose screes, above 3200 m 3000–4000 m, leveled surfaces are not uncommon - syrty. In the middle and low mountains there are mudflow cones. At the foot of many ridges there are bands of foothills (counters, or adyrs). Intermountain (Fergana, Issyk-Kul, Naryn, and others) and marginal (Chui, Talas, Ili, and others) depressions have flat or slightly hilly surfaces with river valleys, lakes, and swamps. Earthquakes are frequent in the Tien Shan. Many minerals: mercury, antimony, lead, zinc, silver, tungsten, phosphorites, mineral waters; in the basins - deposits of oil (in particular, in the Ferghana Valley), brown and coal.


Tien Shan. Ridge Terskey-Ala-Too

The climate is sharply continental. Main part of the mountains lies in the temperate zone, the ridges are southwest. parts are influenced by dry subtropics. In the lower belt of mountains cf. July temp 20–25 °C, Wed. belt 15–17 °C, at the foot of the glaciers 5 °C and below. Wed January temperatures are -6 °C and below, thaws are possible in the middle mountains. The amount of precipitation increases with height (from 300 mm in the foothills to 1000 mm per year in the highlands). There are many snowfields, the mountains are avalanche-prone. Extensive glaciation: within the Central Asian countries, there are approx. 7600 glaciers with a total area 7310 km², on ter. China is known approx. 8900 glaciers on the square. 9190 km². There are numerous valley, cirque and hanging glaciers, and in the Inner Tien Shan - flat top glaciers. The largest glaciers (South and North Engilchek, Kaindy, Mushketova) are of the dendritic type.
The Tien Shan rivers belong to the internal bass. Centre. Asia: Naryn, Sary-Jaz, Syrdarya, Ili, Chu, Tarim, Konchedarya. In the intermountain depressions there are lakes Issyk-Kul, Bagrashkul, Song-Kol, Chatyr-Kol, Barkel. The altitudinal zonality of landscapes is clearly expressed. On the piedmont plains and in the low foothills there are semi-deserts or desert steppes with ephemeral vegetation. Above 900–1200 m, grass-forb steppes in the north and tall-grass semi-savannas in the south. Above 1200–2000 m, meadow steppes, thickets of shrubs, and deciduous forests, above 2000 m replaced by coniferous forests of spruce and fir. At the height 2800–3400 m - subalpine and alpine meadows, mainly in the north. slopes; on the syrtah- landscapes of cold deserts. Above 3600–3800 m - landscapes of the nival-glacial belt, eternal snow and ice.
Within the foothill and low-mountain districts of the Tien Shan, goitered gazelle, polecat, tolai hare, ground squirrel, jerboas, etc. live; in the middle mountains, the inhabitants of the forest are wild boar, lynx, brown bear, badger, wolf, fox, marten, roe deer, etc .; in the highlands - marmots, voles, mountain goats (teke), mountain sheep (argali), ermine, occasionally snow leopard. There are significant specially protected territories in the Tien Shan, in particular a number of reserves: Issyk-Kul, Alma-Ata, Aksu-Dzhabagly, Sary-Chelek, Chatkal, Besh-Aral, etc.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Under the editorship of prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006 .

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Khan Tengri Peak at sunset ... Wikipedia

Mountain system in Central and Central Asia, mainly in the territory of Kyrgyzstan and China; northern and western ranges in Kazakhstan, southwestern tip in Uzbekistan. The length from west to east is about 2500 km. The largest peaks in ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Tien Shan- Tien Shan. Spruce forests. TIAN SHAN, a mountain system in Central and Central Asia, in Kyrgyzstan and China. The highest points are Pobeda Peak (7439 m) and Khan Tengri (6995 m). Alpine relief with glacial forms prevails; on the slopes of the scree. Large intermountain… Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

TIAN SHAN, a mountain system in Central and Central Asia, in Kyrgyzstan and China. The highest points are Pobeda Peak (7439 m) and Khan Tengri (6995 m). Alpine relief with glacial forms prevails; on the slopes of the scree. Large intermountain (Fergana, Issyk ... ... Modern Encyclopedia

Mountain system in Wed. and Center. Asia, on the territory of Kyrgyzstan and China; northern and western ranges in Kazakhstan. Length from west to east approx. 2500 km. The largest peaks in the Center. Tien Shan (Pobeda Peak, 7439 m, Khan Tengri, etc.), from which to the west ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Nomads have a special dream, it appeared a long time ago - even at the dawn of our campaigns, that is, a very long time ago! Many nomads were not yet in the world ...
So it was a long time ago...
And this dream is to visit the Tien Shan!!!
Visit these amazing mountains!
But so far, only Damir Gilmutdinov has visited the Tien Shan several times! And now he is known as a connoisseur of this mountain system!
We hope that someday we will get together and see this mountainous region! But for all Tatars and Turks - this is a holy land, because on it is the abode of the ancient god Tengre - on the peak of Khan Tengri! This is the real roof of the world - for those who lived in the Soviet Union!

Peak Khan Tengri, the abode of the god Tengri

Geography of the Tien Shan
Tien Shan (pinyin: Tiānshān shānmài, Kirg. Ala-Too, Kaz. Aspan-Tau, Tanir shyny, Tanir tau, Uzbek Tyan Shan, Mong. Tenger-uul) is a mountain system located in Central Asia on the territory of four countries : Kyrgyzstan, China (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region), Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The name Tien Shan in Chinese means "heavenly mountains". According to E. M. Murzaev, this name is a tracing paper from the Turkic Tengritag, formed from the words: Tengri (Sky, God, divine) and tag (mountain).

The Tien Shan system includes the following orographic regions:
Northern Tien Shan: Ketmen, Zailiysky Alatau, Kungei-Alatau and Kirgizsky ridges;
Eastern Tien Shan: Borohoro, Iren-Khabyrga, Bogdo-Ula, Karlyktag Halyktau, Sarmin-Ula, Kuruktag ridges
Western Tien Shan: Karatau, Talas Alatau, Chatkal, Pskem and Ugam ranges;
Southwestern Tien Shan: ridges framing the Fergana Valley and including the southwestern slope of the Fergana Range;
Inner Tien Shan: from the north it is bounded by the Kirghiz ridge and the Issyk-Kul basin, from the south by the Kokshaltau ridge, from the west by the Ferghana ridge, from the east by the Akshiyrak mountain range.
The Tien Shan Mountains are considered one of the highest in the world, among them there are more than thirty peaks over 6000 meters high. highest point the mountain system is Pobeda Peak (Tomur, 7439 m), located on the border of Kyrgyzstan and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China; the next in height is the Khan-Tengri peak (6995 m) on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Three mountain ranges diverge from the Central Tien Shan to the west, separated by intermountain basins (Issyk-Kul with Lake Issyk-Kul, Naryn, At-Bashyn, etc.) and connected in the west by the Ferghana Range.

Trans-Ili Alatau Tien Shan Mountains

In the Eastern Tien Shan there are two parallel mountain ranges (height 4-5 thousand meters), separated by depressions (height 2-3 thousand meters). Highly elevated (3-4 thousand m) leveled surfaces - syrts are characteristic. The total area of ​​glaciers is 7.3 thousand km², the largest is South Inylchek. Rapids rivers - Naryn, Chu, Ili, etc. Mountain steppes and semi-deserts dominate: on the northern slopes of the meadow-steppe and forests (mainly coniferous), higher subalpine and alpine meadows, on the syrts the so-called cold deserts.

The length of the Tien Shan from west to east is 2500 km. Mountain system in Wed. and Center. Asia. Length from 3. to E. 2500 km. Alpine folding, the remains of ancient leveled surfaces are preserved at an altitude of 3000-4000 m in the form of syrts. Modern tectonic activity is high, earthquakes are frequent. The mountain ranges are composed of igneous rocks, and the basins are composed of sedimentary rocks. Deposits of mercury, antimony, lead, cadmium, zinc, silver, in the basins - oil.
The relief is predominantly alpine, with glacial forms, scree, above 3200 m permafrost is common. There are flat intermountain basins (Fergana, Issyk-Kul, Naryn). The climate is continental, temperate. Snowfields and glaciers. The rivers belong to the basins of internal flow (Naryn, Ili, Chu, Tarim, etc.), lakes. Issyk-Kul, Song-Kel, Chatyr-Kel.
The first European explorer of the Tien Shan in 1856 was Pyotr Petrovich Semyonov, who received the title "Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky" for his work.

PIK PUTIN
Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev signed an order to name one of the peaks of the Tien Shan named after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
"The height of this peak reaches 4,500 meters above sea level. It is located in the Ak-Suu river basin, on the territory of the Chui region," the office of the head of the Kyrgyz government said.
One of the peaks of the Tien Shan in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan bears the name of the first president of Russia, Boris Yeltsin.

spring on the Kyrgyz Range, Tien Shan

FROM THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE USSR
The highest point of the Tien Shan - Pobeda Peak (7439 m) rises on the state border of the USSR and China. Nearby on the territory of the USSR rises Khan-Tengri peak (6995 m). This border high-mountain region with the highest ridges and largest glaciers, located to the east of the glaciated Akshiyrak massif, is now called by some researchers the Central Tien Shan, meaning its central position in the system of the entire Tien Shan (including the eastern, Chinese part). The space located to the west of this region is a high internal highland, bordered on all sides by barriers of high mountain ranges (Kyrgyz and Terskey-Ala-Too from the north, Fergana from the southwest, Kakshaal-Too from the southeast), which formerly called the Central Tien Shan, received good name Inner Tien Shan. In addition, the Northern Tien Shan is distinguished, which includes the Ketmen, Kungei-Ala-Too, Kirghiz, Zailiysky Alatau, Chu-Ili mountains, and the Western Tien Shan, which includes the Talas Alatau and the ridges extending from it: Ugamsky, Pskemsky , Chatkal with Kuraminsky, Karatau.

Geological structure and relief. The relief of the Tien Shan is characterized by powerful ridges and intermountain basins separating them. The ridges are composed of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Paleozoic and Precambrian (shales, sandstones, limestones, marbles, gneisses, granites, syenites, effusive rocks); intermountain basins are mostly filled with loose continental sedimentary deposits of the Cenozoic. Tien Shan mountains

Most of the northern ranges of the Tien Shan (including the Terskey-Ala-Too ridge belonging to the Inner Tien Shan, as well as the ridges of the Western Tien Shan - Talas Alatau and partly Karatau) are characterized by a wide development of Proterozoic and Lower Paleozoic rocks - terrigenous and carbonate geosynclinal sediments, with ancient (Proterozoic and Caledonian) granitoid intrusions breaking through them. Proterozoic and Caledonian folding movements were widely manifested here. A continental regime was established from the Upper Silurian, and subsequently terrigenous sediments accumulated only in the troughs of the Caledonian folded basement. The Hercynian folding, which, like the previous ones, was accompanied by intrusions, completed the Paleozoic stage in the development of this northern geological zone.

The rest of the Tien Shan belongs to the southern geological (structural-facies) zone, which is separated from the previous zone by a series of tectonic faults (the so-called most important structural line of the Tien Shan, traced from Karatau to the eastern part of Terskey-Ala-Too). Precambrian and Lower Paleozoic rocks are insignificantly distributed in this zone, but marine Upper Devonian and Carboniferous deposits are widely developed, often in carbonate facies. The main folding here was Hercynian. Two subzones are distinguished in this zone: Chatkal-Naryn and Ferghana-Kakshaal. In most of the first of them, the geosynclinal stage of development ended in the Middle Carboniferous; in the second, it ended in the Permian.

Western Tien Shan

Upon completion of the Hercynian folding, the northern and southern zones of the Tien Shan formed a single massif with a similar character of the tectonic regime, generally close to the platform one. On the site of the mountain uplifts formed as a result of the Hercynian folding, already in the Upper Permian (according to V. A. Nikolaev), a peneplain was formed, which existed on the site of the present Tien Shan Mountains throughout the entire Mesozoic, Paleogene and the beginning of the Neogene. Only in the Jurassic did differentiated movements appear, which led to the emergence of local depressions and troughs, which were filled with freshwater coal-bearing sediments; in other periods, the territory experienced oscillatory movements of relatively small amplitude, typical of platform areas. In the Cretaceous and Paleogene, the territory of the Tien Shan, apparently, resembled the current Kazakh uplands with the dominance of denudation plains and low mountain ranges.

Terskey, Kyrgyzstan, Tien Shan

Shallow seas entered the regions of the Western Tien Shan in the Cretaceous and Paleogene. Marine transgressions even more leveled by abrasion the denudation plains that had arisen here earlier (the watershed surface of the Karatau ridge, the Angren plateau) and deposited shallow sediments. But in most of the territory, only continental, mainly clastic, sediments are developed from Paleogene and Neogene deposits. Local uplifts resulting from differentiated movements of small amplitude were eroded, depressions were filled with clastic material, and a weathering crust formed on denudation plains.

Tectonic activity sharply intensified at the end of the Neogene. The platform regime was replaced by sharp differentiated movements of large amplitude, which continued into the Quaternary period. As a result of Neogene and Lower Quaternary tectonic movements, the modern highland relief of the Tien Shan was formed on the site of denudation plains and hillocks.

Previously, it was believed that the structure of the Tien Shan, which arose as a result of the Neogene and Lower Quaternary (i.e., Alpine) movements, was typically blocky. The ranges of the Tien Shan were considered as long horsts stretched along the fault lines, and the valleys and basins were considered as grabens. But now it can be considered proven (a large amount of factual material on this issue has been summarized by S.S. Shults) that, in addition to movements along deep faults, the other main type of neotectonic movements in the Tien Shan was the formation of large-radius folds, i.e., swell-like buckling and deflection of the leveled Paleozoic folded base. As a result of the formation of wide waves of longitudinal folds in the Paleozoic base, consolidated by Hercynian folding and leveled by denudation, the current Tien Shan ranges were uplifted, accompanied by sagging of the valleys and basins separating them. Thus, the ridges are not horsts, but anticlinal uplifts, while the valleys and basins are not grabens, but synclinal troughs, wide troughs. This concept does not at all deny the existence of longitudinal ruptures, which has been proven by numerous geological studies, but it considers a significant part of these ruptures as secondary phenomena, derived from a different type of tectonic deformation - undulating bending of a denudation surface worked out on a Paleozoic folded base. It well explains the regularities of the location of the ancient leveling surfaces found in the modern Tien Shan relief.

Large-radius folds grew gradually. The formation of anticlines and uplift of the ridges were accompanied by denudation processes (erosion, and when the ridges grew sufficiently, then by glacial drift), the dissection of ancient leveled surfaces, and the accumulation of continental sedimentary strata in sagging troughs.

The processes of formation of tectonic structures and tectonic relief continue at the present time, as evidenced by the intensity of seismic phenomena. For example, the echoes of the Kebinsky earthquake in the Northern Tien Shan with an epicenter south of Alma-Ata (1911) spread throughout the globe circling it three times. The energy released in the focus of this earthquake was measured at 1025 ergs; such an amount of energy could be provided by the Dnieper hydroelectric power station with continuous operation for 300-350 years (G. P. Gorshkov).

Mount Choibalsan Tien Shan Mountains

Tashkent is located in the transition zone from the Tien Shan mountains to the epihercynian platform of the Kyzylkum desert (part of the Turan Plate). The devastating Tashkent earthquake of 1966, which occurred at the end of April and was accompanied by strong aftershocks in the following months, was associated with movements along the meridional rupture in the Paleozoic basement underlying the sedimentary soils of the city. At the same time, the eastern block, i.e., located in the direction of the mountains of the Western Tien Shan, experienced a relative uplift. Ultimately, the reason for the Tashkent earthquakes (an analogous earthquake took place there in 1868) should obviously be considered the ongoing development of the Tien Shan mountains.

The relief of most of the ridges of the Tien Shan ranges is alpine. The highest heights are in the Central Tien Shan, especially in the area of ​​​​the peaks of Khan-Tengri - Pobeda Peak, along and to the west of Sarydzhaz, heights reach more than 5000 m (eastern part of Terskey-Ala-Too, Kuilutau ridge, Akshiyrak massif). The Kakshaal-Too ridge in that part of it, which already frames the Inner Tien Shan, reaches almost six kilometers in height (Dankov Peak - 5982 m). In the Northern Tien Shan, the Zailiysky Alatau ridge rises to 4973 m (Talgar peak), the Kirghiz ridge - up to 4875 m.

Tien Shan foothills

The high-mountain ranges of the Tien Shan have sharp ridges with sharp peaks "peaks" in the literal sense of the word, that is, a typical mountain-glacial alpine relief. Often, however, especially in the Central and Inner Tien Shan, less often in the Northern, on the crests of the ridges there are flat surfaces of ancient alignment, inclined to one side due to folded deformation (the formation of folds of a large radius). An example is the crest of the Terskey-Ala-Too ridge: its plateau-like surface, inclined to the south, passes in places completely imperceptibly into the southern slope and is hidden under the moraine sediments of the syrts of the Inner Tien Shan. The mid-altitude ranges of the Tien Shan also have leveled, sometimes abrasion surfaces; for example, the crest of the eastern part of the Karatau ridge is so level that a motor road runs along it.

In the Inner and Central Tien Shan, flattened surfaces often form the bottoms of high-altitude valleys, covered with moraine, alluvial and other sediments, and wide terrace-like steps along the sides of the valleys. At the highest altitudes, such valley bottoms are almost bare rocky tundras. The bottoms, which are covered with grassy vegetation and serve as pastures, are called syrts by the local Kyrgyz population. The name “syrt” is a useful pasture area of ​​the highlands, as it were, contrasted with the rest of the territory (“tau” - mountains with rocky slopes, “bel” - mountains covered with glaciers, etc.). The syrt region of the Inner and Central Tien Shan with high valley bottoms and a relatively low relative height of the ridges, with their enormous absolute height, is a typical upland, framed by a border of high mountain ranges and much larger than the Issyk-Kul basin in the north and the Kashgar deserts in the south.

ridge Terskey Alatau

The slopes of the Tien Shan mountain ranges are dynamic. Erosion processes develop on them, scree and rockfalls are formed, in some places - landslides, in the gorges - mudflows. The northern slope of the Zailiysky Alatau is known for exceptionally high mudflow activity in river valleys. Destructive mudflows, landslides and collapses were accompanied here by strong earthquakes.

The foothill steps of the ridges, composed of sedimentary rocks, mostly loose and clastic Paleogene, Neogene and Lower Quaternary sediments, are strongly dissected by erosion. In the Northern Tien Shan, they are called counters. The bottoms of the valleys and basins of the Tien Shan have flat accumulative surfaces of terraces. The wide alluvial cones of the lateral gorges superimposed on them give the relief an undulation. Of the intermountain basins, Issyk-Kul and Naryn stand out for their size.

The climate of the Tien Shan is characterized by generally sharp continentality, which is associated with its position in relatively low latitudes inside the mainland, at a considerable distance from the Atlantic Ocean, among dry flat desert spaces. However, the high heights of the ridges, the complexity and dissection of the relief cause significant contrasts in temperatures and degrees of moisture. The influence of neighboring deserts affects the climate of the foothills and the low-mountain zone to a greater extent.

Moisture-saturated Atlantic air masses in the form of western air currents, running at a considerable height above the Central Asian deserts, reach the Tien Shan ranges. Under the influence of the mountainous relief, atmospheric fronts become aggravated and a significant amount of precipitation falls (in some places more than 1600 mm/year), mainly on the western slopes (in the mid-mountain and high-altitude zones). On the contrary, arid conditions are created on the eastern slopes and in the basins of the Inner and Central Tien Shan (precipitation - 200-300 mm/year). The maximum precipitation is in summer, but on the western slopes of the mountains there is a lot of precipitation in winter. On them and in the valleys open to the west, the thickness of the winter snow cover reaches 2–3 m, while on the eastern slopes and behind them, especially in the valleys of the Inner and Central Tien Shan, there is almost no snow in winter. Places where there is no snow cover are used as winter pastures.

Strong air warming over the deserts of Central Asia in summer contributes to a rise in the level of condensation in the Tien Shan mountains, and therefore the snow line is much higher than, for example, in the Western Caucasus and in the Alps. In the Inner and Central Tien Shan, passes even at an altitude of more than 4000 m are free of snow in summer.

Temperature conditions in the Tien Shan change in accordance with the pattern of altitudinal zoning. Climatic high-altitude zones stand out here - from the climate of sultry deserts at the foot of the mountains to the cold climate of the high-altitude snow-ice zone. In the valleys of the lower mountain zone, the average temperature in July is 20-25°C, in the middle-altitude valleys 15-17°C, and on the tops of the mountain ranges it drops to 0°C and below. In winter, in all zones, with the exception of the highlands, cold periods alternate with thaws, although the average January temperatures are negative (in most of the valleys -6° and below). Temperature inversion phenomena are widespread.

Jamansu Glacier Tien Shan Mountains

Some local climate features depend not only on the relief, but also on other factors. For example, the lake has a softening effect on the climate of the Issyk-Kul basin. In Przhevalsk, on the shore of Issyk-Kul, in January it is 3.5° warmer than in Alma-Ata, which is located only slightly to the north, but on the other hand, 900 m lower. In Naryn, which also lies in the basin, it is only 250 m above Przhevalsk, but somewhat to the south, in January it is 11 ° colder. If we reset one degree to the difference in absolute heights, then we can assume that the huge water mass of the lake increases the air temperature in January by about 10 °.

The eastern part of the Issyk-Kul basin is much more humidified than the western part, where desert landscapes are common. Often this phenomenon is explained by the role of moisture evaporating from the surface of the lake, carried by western winds to the east. To make sure that this is not the main reason, one can turn to the landscape features of the Fergana basin, where the eastern part is also much more humid, although in the center of the basin there is not a lake, but deserts. The western part of the basin is deserted not only in the plains, but also in its mountainous frame, while on the slope of the Ferghana Range, which forms the eastern frame of the basin, beautiful forests of walnuts and wild fruit trees grow. The fact is that in both basins, atmospheric fronts coming from the west and southwest are washed out when descending from the mountains of the western framing and are restored under the influence of the eastern mountain barriers. In the Issyk-Kul basin, an increase in temperature due to the foehn effect created by westerly winds is combined in winter with the warming effect of the lake's water mass.

Foens in the mountains and foothills of the Tien Shan are widespread, and in particular, they are not uncommon in the Tashkent region, where they rush from the mountains, from the Chirchik valley.

Glaciation. The snow line in the Tien Shan rises from the periphery into the mountain system, generally from the northwest to the southeast, which is associated with an increase in the dryness of the climate in this direction. On the Talas Alatau and the Kirghiz Range, it is located at an altitude of 3600-3800 m on the northern slopes and 3800-4200 m on the southern slopes, and in the Central Tien Shan, in the Khan Tengri region - Pobeda Peak - at an altitude of 4200-4450 m. However It is the Central Tien Shan, and especially the region of Khan Tengri - Pobeda Peak, that is characterized by the greatest glaciation, which is explained by the enormous height of the mountain ranges. Here is the largest glacier of the Tien Shan, Inylchek, about 60 km long.

One of the large glaciers in the Akshiyrak massif, the Petrov glacier, gives rise to the Kumtor River, the main source of the Naryn River (upstream of the Syr Darya). Large glaciers are located on the Kakshaal-Too and Terskey-Ala-Too ridges. For the latter, as well as for some other ranges of the Tien Shan, the so-called flat-top glaciers are characteristic, which are found on the most highly elevated ancient alignment surfaces. They lie in the form of small shields (caps, loaves) on flat, slightly inclined top surfaces of the ridges. Since these glaciers occupy the watershed sections of the ridges and there is no place for detrital material to fall on them (only atmospheric dust settles), they have very poorly developed moraine formations. There are many glaciers on the northern ranges of the Tien Shan - on the Kyungei-Ala-Too, the Zailiysky Alatau, the Kirghiz Range. In addition to valley glaciers and flat-top glaciers, the Tien Shan is rich in cirque and hanging glaciers. The area of ​​Tien Shan glaciation is about 7300 km2, the number of glaciers is more than 7700. The main part of the glaciers is now in the stage of reduction.

In many regions of the Tien Shan, traces of ancient glaciation are distinct; thus, the highest syrts of the Inner and Central Tien Shan are characterized by hilly-morainic relief. It is believed that the Tien Shan was subjected to two glaciations, and during the first of them, the glaciers reached their greatest development and, apparently, descended to the foothills of the mountain ranges (which, however, did not correspond to the modern foothills, since during the interglacial period the piedmont plains were uplifted by considerable height). On the syrts of the Inner and Central Tien Shan, as a result of ice and firn sliding on them from the gentle slopes of the ridges, ice sheets were then formed. The glaciation of the dissected marginal ranges of the Tien Shan, apparently, was valley, and the glacial troughs were very wide.

Traces of maximum glaciation are strongly blurred and erased by subsequent glaciation, due to which the forms, on the contrary, are perfectly preserved. These are typical trough valleys, cirques, crossbars, moraines, etc. The second glaciation was smaller than the first, but still significantly exceeded the modern one. It is assumed that during this glaciation, the syrts were filled with slow-moving wide and gently sloping glaciers of the cover type. Valley glaciers were much larger than modern ones. The Inylchek glacier reached 110 km in length.

The rivers of the Tien Shan end in the drainless lake basins of the deserts of Central and Central Asia, in the internal Tien Shan lakes or have "dry deltas", that is, their waters seep into the alluvium of the piedmont plains and are disassembled for irrigation. Most of the rivers belong to the Syr Darya basin. The rivers of the Northern Tien Shan belong to the basins of the Ili and Chu rivers. A significant (southeastern) part of the Inner and Central Tien Shan belongs to the Tarim basin (Sarydzhaz, the sources of Kokshaal).

Rivers originating in the highlands are fed mainly by glaciers and snows; they have a summer flood. Small rivers, whose sources are located in lower altitude zones, are fed by groundwater (karasu), as well as melted snow and rain.

The Tien Shan rivers are used for energy purposes and for irrigation of arid basins, especially neighboring desert areas. Alma-Ata, Chui, Talas, Tashkent, Golodnostepsky, Fergana oases, as well as oases along the lower reaches of the Syr Darya, are fed by the waters of the rivers running from the Tien Shan mountains.

Lake Kolsai

There are many lakes in the Tien Shan. The largest of them is Lake Issyk-Kul, which occupies a tectonic depression. This is one of the deepest lakes in the USSR, the third deepest after Baikal and the Caspian. Its maximum depth is 668 m. The lake is unusually beautiful due to the intense color of the water, blue or blue-green, and the picturesqueness of the mountain ranges surrounding the lake basin (in the north - Kungei-Ala-Too, in the south - Terskey-Ala-Too). Due to the great depth and colossal volume of water (1.7 times greater than in the Aral Sea), Issyk-Kul does not freeze in winter, with the exception of bays and a narrow coastal strip in some places.

The water in the lake is brackish (salinity in the open part is 5.8‰), but contains much less salt than in most other endorheic reservoirs. This is explained by the fact that the lake became drainless and began to salinize relatively recently. It is also necessary to take into account the huge volume of water: over the same period of time, a shallow lake would have time to salinize more,

The fauna of Issyk-Kul is poor in species, but there are fish of commercial importance (osman, chebak, carp, etc.). The lake is navigable. Steamboats run from the village of Rybachye (where the final railway station is) to the Przhevalsk pier.

The most significant lakes of the Inner Tien Shan are Sonkel and Chatyrkel. Sonkel is a flowing lake, Chatyrkel is drainless and shallow. There are many small lakes on the syrts in the depressions of the moraine relief. Glacial lakes are widespread.

Altitude landscape zones and belts. Nature in the Tien Shan mountains changes noticeably with height, obeying the laws of altitudinal zoning. Back in the middle of the last century (1857), P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky singled out “five zones located as if on floors one above the other” on the northern slope of the Zailiysky Alatau, and gave a description of their natural features and economic use 1.

The altitudinal zonality is most fully and distinctly expressed on mountain ranges open to the west, southwest, or north, while on the inner ranges it is sometimes somewhat obscured or modified; on the high interior highlands, the lower belts fall out. The nature of the lower altitudinal zones of the Southwestern Tien Shan is close to the Pamir-Alai and has subtropical features.

mountain lake, Eastern Tien Shan

The flat spaces bordering the Tien Shan mountains are occupied by clayey sagebrush and saltwort deserts, turning in the south into sagebrush-ephemeral and ephemeral deserts. On the piedmont plains and in the low foothills, the deserts are replaced by semi-deserts, or desert steppes, mostly of the boreal type, but in the southernmost regions of the Western Tien Shan and on the western slope of the Ferghana Range, they are already acquiring the features of a subtropical type. Some geobotanists call semi-deserts (desert steppes) of this type, dominated by ephemera and ephemeroids, short-grass semi-savannas. However, the climatic regime and the rhythm of the development of nature in the south of Central Asia have nothing in common with those in the tropical savannahs. There are no hot and cold seasons in the savannas, there are dry and rainy seasons, which fall on completely different seasons.

glacier Karakol

In the foothill semi-desert zone of the main part of the Tien Shan, wormwood-turf-cereal communities predominate in the vegetation cover. To the south, during the transition to the subtropics (in the southwestern part of the Tien Shan), in the same altitudinal zone, wormwood-ephemeral communities are common (with the dominance of thick-pillar sedge and bulbous bluegrass, i.e., close to the communities of ephemeral and wormwood-ephemeral deserts) , with height turning into ephemeroid couch grass-bluegrass with the participation of large herbs. In the north, in the zone of foothill semi-deserts, northern (low-carbonate) serozems are common, in the south (Southwestern Tien Shan) - ordinary (typical) and dark serozems. The upper limit of the landscape zone of foothill semi-deserts is 900–1200 m abs. high This zone is inhabited by desert and steppe fauna of piedmont clayey and loess plains.

Mountain-steppe high-altitude landscape zone. Dry steppes are widespread in its lower belt, and large-grass subtropical steppes are widespread in the south. The vegetation cover of the belt, represented by grass-forb communities, is dominated in the north by feather grass and fescue with an admixture of wormwood (especially on gravelly soils), and in the south - large perennials of the ephemeroid type - couch grass, bulbous barley, from forbs - elecampane, etc.

The southern subtropical steppes dominated by hairy couch grass and bulbous barley are called by some geobotanists large-grass “semi-savannahs”. However, the seasonal rhythm of the development of "semi-savannas" is directly opposite to the rhythm of the development of the tropical savannas of the northern hemisphere. Neither the climate regime, nor the soils of the low-mountain subtropical steppes of Central Asia, as well as the foothill semi-deserts, have anything in common with tropical savannahs.

Soils of large-grass subtropical steppes are dark gray dry steppe (leached gray soils). In the dry steppe belt of the more northern regions of the Tien Shan, mountain light chestnut soils are common. The upper belt of the mountain-steppe zone is a belt of turf-grass (fescue-feather grass) steppes on mountain dark chestnut and chernozem soils. Soddy-cereal steppes pass higher into mid-mountain meadow steppes of the next altitudinal zone.

In the mountain-steppe zone there are spring-summer (below) and summer-autumn (higher, in the belt of turf-cereal steppes) pastures.

From a height of 1200-2000 m and in some places more a high-altitude landscape zone begins - a mountain forest-meadow-steppe zone. There is already middle mountains with rather steep slopes and narrow erosional gorges. In the lower belt of the zone, meadow steppes on mountain chernozems, shrub thickets and deciduous forests are widespread.

In the Southwestern Tien Shan, meadow steppes and shrubs grow on brown mountain soils, while forests grow on dark brown soils. This belt has excellent pastures and good hayfields, in some places non-irrigated agriculture is possible.

Deciduous forests in the Tien Shan do not form a continuous belt, located in separate massifs among meadow steppes, shrub thickets (rose hips - rose gardens are especially widespread) and rocky areas. On the western slope of the Fergana Range, on the southern slope of the Chatkal Range and in the Ugamo-Pskem region of the Western Tien Shan, in mountain valleys protected from the cold air masses by high mountain ridges on the north side, magnificent forests of walnut (Juglans regia, J. fallax ), sometimes with an admixture of maple (Acer turkestanicum), with cherry plum, honeysuckle, buckthorn, apple tree (Malus kirghisorum) in the undergrowth. In dense forests, grasses are almost absent and the soil surface is covered with a layer of litter of half-decayed litter of leaves and branches. Mountain-forest brown unsaturated soils are developed here.

On the northern ranges of the Tien Shan Walnut replaced by aspen; in these aspen forests there are many wild fruit trees. In the forest-steppe of the northern slope of the Zailiyskiy Alatau there are wild apple trees, apricots; In addition to aspen, hawthorn, apple, Tien Shan mountain ash, willow, honeysuckle, etc. grow in forests. In the middle of the last century, tigers were found here. In the belt with deciduous forests there are badger (Meles meles, various subspecies), wild boar (Sus scrofa nigripes).

In the upper belt of the forest-meadow-steppe zone (from 1700 m and above), coniferous forests of Tien Shan spruce grow, to which Semenov's fir is mixed in the Western Tien Shan. At first, forests appear mainly in the depths of the gorges and on the slopes of the northern exposure. The slopes of the southern exposure in the lower part of the belt are covered with mountain-steppe vegetation and shrubs. Higher, however, the spruce is also selected on the southern slopes and, finally, remains only on the southern slopes, while on the northern slopes the spruce forests are already being replaced by subalpine meadows.

Tien Shan spruce is a tall slender tree with a narrow crown. Rowan and currant grow in the lower tree layer and undergrowth of the forests formed by it. Under the shady crowns of spruce, a moss cover is developed and typical representatives of the boreal forest flora are found - wintergreen, forest bluegrass, chickweed, willow-herb, etc., or the soil is covered with litter of needles.

Under the forests of Tien Shan spruce, peculiar mountain-forest dark-colored soils are developed. Despite the significant amount of precipitation (up to 800 mm/year and more) and the general similarity of the landscape to the mountain taiga, these soils, especially on the northern slope of the Terskey-Ala-Too ridge and in the Inner Tien Shan, have nothing in common with podzolic soils. The abundance of humus and their acidity are such as if they had developed on carbonate rocks, although these soils often form on non-carbonate deluvium. M.A. Glazovskaya showed that the features of dark-colored mountain forest soils are associated with the chemical composition of the needles of the Tien Shan spruce: it contains 44% CaO in its composition (up to 50% CaO in the needle litter), while the needles spruce- only 12%.

Forests of Tien Shan spruce are found not only on the marginal ranges of the Northern and Western Tien Shan, but also on the inner ones, in particular, they are widespread on the northern slope of the Terskey-Ala-Too range at altitudes of 2100-3000 m. Inner and Central Tien Shan; in the eastern part of this area of ​​their distribution, they are found higher (from 2600-2800 m), mainly in shady gorges. On drier slopes in the belt of coniferous forests, there are thickets of juniper (Juniperus turkestanica, etc.), which go even higher than spruce. In the southern regions of the Western Tien Shan and on the western slopes of the Ferghana Range, juniper forests sometimes replace spruce forests, located above walnut forests. Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus), lynx ( lynx lynx) from birds - nutcracker, feeding on the seeds of the Tien Shan spruce, crossbill (Loxia curvirostra tianschanica), juniper grosbeak, feeding on the seeds of juniper.

Asterisk glacier

The next landscape zone (begins at 2600–2800 m) is a zone of high-mountain meadows and meadow steppes, in places with creeping juniper, corresponding to the altitudinal distribution of ancient glacial cirques and cirques, the bottoms and sides of trough valleys at the ends of modern glaciers. There are three belts: subalpine, alpine and subnival.

The transition from the forest-meadow-steppe zone to the subalpine zone of the zone of alpine meadows and meadow steppes is very indistinct. Subalpine meadows begin in the belt of spruce forests, in its upper part. The spruce forests of the Tien Shan were generally referred to as the subalpine belt, but later they began to distinguish the forest-meadow-steppe belt with spruce forests, which we considered as the upper belt of the forest-meadow-steppe zone.

Mountain-meadow chernozem-like and mountain-meadow typical soils are developed under the mountain meadows of the subalpine belt, and mountain-meadow-steppe soils are developed under the meadow-steppe vegetation.

The subalpine meadows of the Tien Shan are tall grasses; them species composition rich and varied. In addition to grasses (sheep - Helictotrichon asiaticum, foxtail - Alopecurus songoricus, red fescue Festuca rubra) they contain a lot of colorful, beautifully flowering forbs (geranium - Geranium saxatile, G. albiflorum, buttercup - Ranunculus grandifolius, anemone, cinquefoil, etc.). Dense and juicy, these meadows serve as excellent summer pastures - dzhailau. Among the meadows, thickets of creeping juniper (Juniperus turkestanica) are frequent, which also enters the alpine zone.

The Alpine belt, whose meadows also serve as good summer pastures, begins at a height of 3000 m and rises to an average of 3400 m (higher in the Inner and Central Tien Shan). The soil and vegetation cover here is mosaic, broken by scree and rocky outcrops of rocks, the soils are thin, skeletal; herbage is dense and low. Differences are observed in the soil and vegetation cover depending on the degree of moisture. In wetter areas under sedge-grass vegetation with an admixture of variegated colorful forbs (buttercups - Ranunculus alberti and others, primroses - Primula algida, gentians - Gentiana falcata, G. aurea, etc., forget-me-nots, anemones, poppies, etc.) develop mountain-meadow peaty soils; under heath meadows with a vegetation cover of kobresia (Kobresia capilliformis, etc.) with an admixture of variegated alpine forbs, mountain-meadow semi-peaty dark brown soils; under the meadow-steppe vegetation of fescue (Festuca kryloviana, etc.), thin-legged, sedge, and alpine forbs, there are mountain-meadow-steppe semi-peaty brown soils. In places of increased soil and ground moisture near springs, mountain streams and rivers, marshy meadows develop - saz with peaty saz-meadow soils.

valley of the Chon-Uzen river

Low-growing meadow alpine vegetation rises to eternal snows. The upper belt, transitional to the nival zone, where the soil and vegetation cover is extremely fragmented, can be distinguished as subnival. Here there are only small sod areas or even individual specimens of alpine plants, nestled among stones and in rock crevices.

The zone of alpine meadows and meadow steppes and partly of the highlands of the syrt region (see below) are characterized by Central Asian argali sheep (Ovis ammon poloi), teke ibex (Capra sibirica sakeen), snow leopard (Felis uncia), Tien Shan bear (Ursus arctos leuconyx ), also found in forests, pika (senostavets); marmots and the narrow-skulled vole (Microtus gregalis) are very numerous, causing great harm to mountain pastures. Of the birds, the Himalayan mountain "turkey" (ular - Tetraogallus himalayensis), alpine jackdaw (Pyrrhocorax graculus), red-billed jackdaw (chough - P. pyrrhocorax), horned alpine lark (Eremophila alpestris), finches live here. There are many water birds on the lakes. Among the animals of the highlands of the Tien Shan, there are many Central Asian, in particular Tibetan, species.

The uppermost landscape zone is glacial-nival (from 3600–3800 m on the marginal ridges, from the same heights and above 4000 m in the Inner and Central Tien Shan) with eternal snow, glaciers, rocks and scree on steep slopes. The processes of physical (temperature and frost) weathering are intense here. Algae and lithophilic lichens settle on stones and rocks, under the influence of which the processes of biochemical weathering and primary soil formation proceed. On the fine earth prepared by these processes, higher alpine plants settle in the cracks of the rocks, the upper limit of their distribution is about 4000 m.

The snow ridge of the Zailiysky Alatau and the moraines of ancient glaciers in the mountain-meadow altitudinal zone in the foreground. Photo by N. Gvozdetsky

In the inner valleys and basins of the Tien Shan, due to the continentality and dryness of the climate, the altitudinal zonality of landscapes is obscured and modified. At an altitude of more than 1500 m in the valleys and basins of the Inner Tien Shan, peculiar rocky deserts are common, which are "the most western formations of the widespread and Central Asian rocky gammads" 1 (on the outer slopes of the marginal chains of the Tien Shan at the same height among the meadow steppes and shrub thickets, forests are already found). The highly dissected desert low mountains are associated with salt-bearing and gypsum-bearing variegated Paleogene-Neogene strata, on which only rare gypsum bushes grow.

Chomoy pass

Along with deserts in the dry intermontane depressions of the Inner Tien Shan, lying at an altitude of 1500-2500 m, landscapes of semi-deserts and dry steppes are widespread. The basis of their vegetation cover is formed by xerophytic perennial semishrubs, and features of wormwood (Artemisia compacta, etc.), as well as prutnyak, teresken, and various saltworts. Caragana bushes (Caragana pleiophylla and C. leucophloea) are characteristic. With slightly better moisture, fescue and feather grass (Stipa caucasica, S. glareosa) appear. In places of heavy grazing, grasses are grazing by cattle, the percentage of semishrubs increases, and the vegetation acquires a more desert character than it should be in accordance with general physical and geographical conditions. Such a phenomenon can be observed, for example, in the Naryn basin, near the city of Naryn.

The semi-deserts and dry steppes of the valleys and basins of the Inner Tien Shan, as well as the rocky deserts, are close to those of Central Asia, specifically to the Mongolian ones. According to M. A. Glazovskaya, their soils (of the light chestnut type) are also similar to the soils of Mongolia. The absence of alkalinity in soils is characteristic, which, according to M.A. Glazovskaya, is associated with the special chemical composition of the Central Asian species of wormwood (Artemisia compacta, A. tianschanica) growing here. Only 2-3% sodium was found in the ash of the Tien Shan wormwood, while the ash of the wormwood of the plain dry steppes and semi-deserts of the southeast of the Russian Plain and Kazakhstan contains 10-12% of sodium.

As the absolute height increases, species of wormwood (A. rhodantha), fescue (Festuca kryloviana), and feather grass, characteristic of the Tien Shan highlands, begin to occur. There are also hairy kobresia (Kobresia capilliformis), gentian, saxifrage and other plants already characteristic of the Alpine highlands.

Kazakhstan, Tuzkol lake, Khan Tengri

Semi-deserts and dry steppes in places of better moisture pass into mid-mountain and high-mountain steppes with the dominance of feather grass, fescue, sheep (Helictotrichon desertorum, H. tianschanicum) and other grasses. Mountain-steppe landscapes are widespread in the valleys, basins and on the slopes of the ridges of the Inner Tien Shan. The forests, formed mainly by Tien Shan spruce, are interspersed in the general landscape background in separate fragments, meeting head-on in shady, more humid gorges. Juniper elfins are widespread.

The landscape zone of alpine meadows and meadow steppes is also not universally developed in the Inner and Central Tien Shan. Sometimes its distribution is extremely fragmented. In the syrts of the Inner and Central Tien Shan, alpine meadows are often replaced by a very peculiar landscape of a cold alpine desert. Among the bare surface of takyr-like soil, on gentle moraine hills, dense crescent-shaped pillows of sibbaldia (Sibbaldia tetrandra) are scattered; other plants - small, oppressed - hide from cold winds in the cracks of takyr-like soil or settle only on the southern slopes. Moist sedge-kobresia meadows (from Carex melanantha, Kobresia humilis, C. capilliformis), often swampy, with peaty-gley, usually carbonate, and saz soils, are developed in the depressions between the areas of moraine hills.

Cold alpine desert in the syrt region of the Inner Tien Shan. The crescent-shaped pillows of sibbaldia are visible against the background of bare takyr-like soil. Photo by N. Gvozdetsky

In the soil at a depth of 70 cm to 2 m, permafrost is ubiquitous. Throughout the year, precipitation falls mainly in solid form (snow, grains, hail). Cold high-mountain deserts are common at altitudes of 3600-3850 m. Higher up, in the subnival belt of the syrt region, almost bare stony tundras with stone polygons are widespread, directly adjacent to snow fields and glaciers of flat peaks.

The natural resources in the Tien Shan mountains are great and varied. Mineral resources include non-ferrous and rare metal ores (polymetallic deposits of the Karatau ridge, Karamazor and Sumsar - in the spurs of the Kuraminsky ridge, Bordunsky - in the Kirghiz ridge, Aktyuz - between the Zailiysky Alatau and Kungei-Ala-Too ridges, copper deposits on the Kuraminsky ridge and etc.), coal (Dzhirgalan - eastern Issyk-Kul, Dungyuryomyo - in the Inner Tien Shan, Tash-Kumyr, Kok-Yangak, Uzgen - in eastern Fergana), brown coal (Lenger, etc.), oil (in the foothills Ferghana Range and eastern Ferghana - Mayli-Sai, Kochkor-Ata, etc.), rock salt (in the Inner Tien Shan, on the outskirts of the Ferghana Valley), various mining and chemical raw materials and building materials. Large deposits of phosphorites in Karatau provide chemical fertilizers for agriculture in Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Siberia. There are healing mineral springs: Saryagach - in the Kazakhstani part of the Western Tien Shan, Issyk-Ata - in the Kyrgyz Range, Cholpon-Ata, Dzhetyoguz and Teploklyuchenka (Aksu) - in the Issyk-Kul basin.

The energy of the rivers flowing from the Tien Shan mountains is used to create hydroelectric power plants, but the opportunities available in this regard have not yet been realized. In the Syr Darya, the Farkhad hydroelectric power station near Bekabad and the Kairakum hydroelectric power station above Leninabad were built. Hydroelectric power plants have been built in Chirchik near Tashkent and upstream - the Charvak hydroelectric power station, on the irrigation canals of the Tashkent oasis (on the Bozsu ditch, etc.), on Shaarihansay in eastern Fergana, and a hydroelectric power station is being built in Karadarya in the same place. In Kyrgyzstan, the Alamedin and Przhevalskaya hydroelectric power stations operate, the construction of large hydroelectric power stations has begun to use the energy of the Naryn River (see the “Water” section). Kazakhstan's capital Alma-Ata receives electricity from hydroelectric power plants in the valley of the Bolshaya Almatinka River on the northern slope of the Zailiyskiy Alatau. The energy of the Ili River is used by the Kapchagai hydroelectric power station.

Tien Shan has forest and rich pasture resources. Of great importance are walnut forests with valuable wood (with influxes - burls, going to the production of the best varieties of plywood) and tasty nutritious fruits. However, the most important functions of walnut forests, like others, are water protection and soil protection. Important are the problems of restoring and expanding the forest areas of the forest-meadow-steppe altitudinal zone, regulating grazing on mountain pastures, increasing the productivity of meadows, and creating cultivated pastures. Agriculture rises high into the mountains. Rice, grapes and peach are cultivated up to 1000 m, apple, apricot and plum - much higher, barley, wheat and potatoes - up to 2500-2750 m. A valuable crop of medicinal poppy is cultivated on the banks of Issyk-Kul. During the years of Soviet power, major measures were taken to expand irrigated lands in the foothills and valleys. For the purposes of irrigation, the Big Fergana and Big Chui canals, as well as the Orto-Tokoi reservoir on the Chu River and the Sokuluk reservoir in its basin, and many others have been created.

Resorts arose near the healing mineral springs. The resort area of ​​all-Union significance is the coast of Lake Issyk-Kul.

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SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND PHOTO:
Team Nomads
http://www.photosight.ru/
Wikipedia website
http://tapemark.narod.ru/
Murzaev E. M. Turkic geographical names. - M .: Eastern literature. 1996, p. 161
Chupakhin V. M. Physical geography of the Tien Shan: (Natural and geographical features, main issues of landscape mapping and complex physical and geographical zoning) / Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, Department of Geography. - Alma-Ata: Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, 1964. - 374 p. - 1300 copies. (in trans.)
http://en.delfi.lt/

M. A. Glazovskaya. On the history of the development of modern natural landscapes of the Inner Tien Shan. - In the book: "Geographical research in the Central Tien Shan". M., 1953, p. 62.

P. P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky. Journey to the Tien Shan in 1856-1857. M., 1946, pp. 138-141.

Tien Shan (Chinese - Celestial Mountains)

mountain system in Central and Central Asia, located between 40 ° and 45 ° N. latitude, 67° and 95° east. e. Western part of T.-Sh. located within the USSR (mainly in the Kirghiz SSR, the northern and western ranges in the Kazakh SSR, the southwestern tip in the Uzbek SSR and the Tajik SSR), the eastern - in China. Length from west to east 2450 km(within the USSR 1200 km). T.-Sh. in the north, the Borokhoro ridge connects with the mountain system of the Dzhungarsky Alatau (See Dzhungarsky Alatau) , and in the south it is connected with the Alai Range of the Gissar-Alai system. The northern and southern borders of the western part of T.-Sh. the Ili and Ferghana valleys are usually considered. Eastern part of T.-Sh. in the north it is bounded by the Dzhungar and in the south by the Kashgar (Tarim) basins.

Relief. T.-Sh. consists of mountain ranges, elongated mainly in the latitudinal or sublatitudinal direction; only in its central part is the Central T.-Sh., where the highest peaks are located - Pobeda Peak (7439 m) and Khan Tengri, along the border of the USSR and China, the Meridional Range stretches.

In the Soviet part of T.-Sh. The following orographic regions are distinguished: Northern Tier-Sh., consisting of the Ketmen ridges (part of it in China), the Trans-Ili Alatau, Kungei-Alatau, and Kirghiz; Western T.-Sh., including the Talas Alatau with adjoining it from the south-west. ridges Chatkalsky, Pskemsky, Ugamsky, and also Karatau; the ridges framing the Fergana Valley, including the southwestern slope of the Fergana Range, are sometimes called the Southwestern T.-Sh.; The inner T.-Sh. it is framed by the Ferghana Range, from the south by the Kokshaltau Range, from the east by the Akshiyrak Massif, which separates the Inner T.-Sh. from Central. Ridges of the Northern and Western T.-Sh. gradually decrease from east to west from 4500-5000 m up to 3500-4000 m(Karatau ridge until 2176 m) and differ in asymmetry: the northern slopes facing the Ili, Chui and Talas basins are longer, strongly dissected by gorges, with a relative height of up to 4000 m and more. From the ridges of the Inner T.-Sh. the most significant are Terskey-Alatau, Borkoldoy, Atbashi (up to 4500-5000 m) and the southern barrier - the Kokshaltau ridge (Dankov peak, 5982 m). Characteristic of all T.-Sh. the latitudinal and sublatitudinal arrangement of the ridges is clearly expressed in the Northern and Inner T.-Sh. Three main bands are outlined: a strip of ridges of the Northern Tier-Sh. (Susamyrtau, Dzhumgoltau, Terskey-Alatau, Jetim) and the southern strip of the ridges of the Inner T.-Sh. (Atbashi, Naryntau, Borkoldoy and Kokshaltau).

In the Eastern T.-Sh. 2 bands of mountain ranges are clearly expressed, separated by a latitudinally elongated band of valleys and basins. Heights of the main ranges 4000-5000 m; the ridges of the northern strip - Borohoro, Iren-Khabyrga, Bogdo-Ula, Karlyktag stretch to 95 ° E. d. The southern strip is shorter (stretches to 90 ° E); the main ranges are Halyktau, Sarmin-Ula, Kuruktag. At the foot of the Eastern T.-Sh. the Turfan depression is located (depth up to - 154 m), Khami depression; within the southern strip - an intermountain depression filled with Lake Bagrashkel.

The highlands are characterized by glacial landforms (circuses, troughs, etc.); on the slopes of the gorges - numerous screes, along the bottoms of the valleys - the accumulation of moraine deposits. At an altitude of 3200-3400 m and above, permafrost rocks are almost ubiquitous; the thickness of frozen soils rarely exceeds 20-30 m, but in the Aksai-Chatirkel basin - in some places more than 100 m. Hydrolaccoliths, peat mounds are found within the high-mountain depressions, and solifluction processes occur on the slopes. Mudflow fans are ubiquitous in the middle and low mountains. Within the limits of Terskey-Alatau, Atbashi and other ridges, large areas are occupied by leveling surfaces, and at the foot of many ridges there are bands of foothills (local names are “counters”, “adyrs”), which in many areas causes a well-pronounced stepping of the transverse profile of mountains. Alpine depressions, relatively recently freed from glaciers and still slightly affected by erosion, usually have flat or slightly hilly surfaces; significant areas are occupied by lakes and swamps. Troughs below 2500 m, usually include well-developed river valleys with numerous terraces, some of which have preserved lakes (for example, Issyk-Kul) . In some basins, there are areas of low hills (especially in the Naryn and south-western Issyk-Kul basins); there are manifestations of clayey pseudokarst. At the foot of the ridges, the fans of numerous rivers are characteristic, often forming continuous strips - proluvial shelves stretching for tens of kilometers.

Geological structure and minerals. Mountain ranges of T.-Sh. are composed of Paleozoic and pre-Paleozoic rocks, and intermountain valleys (depressions) are filled with Cenozoic and, partially, Mesozoic deposits. The geographical division of the modern mountain system, created in the Neogene-Anthropogenic time, does not coincide with the tectonic zonality of the Paleozoic folded structure. Within T.-Sh. allocate the Caledonides of the Northern T.-Sh. and Hercynides of the Middle and Southern T.-Sh. To the Caledonides of the Northern T.-Sh. ranges include: Kyrgyz, Talas Alatau, Susamyr, Zailiysky Alatau, Kungei-Alatau, Terskey-Alatau, Ketmen, Narat, Borto-Ula; to the Hercynides of the Middle T.-Sh. - B. Karatau, Ugamsky, Pskemsky, Chatkalsky, Kuraminsky, Jetim, Jamantau and others; to the Hercynides of the Southern T.-Sh. - Baubashata mountain junction, the ranges of Kokshaltau, Maidantag, Khalyktau, Fergana, Alai, Turkestan and Zeravshan (the last three make up the Gissar-Alay mountain system (See Gissar-Alay)) and others.

Caledonides of Northern T.-Sh. they border along faults: in the north, with the Hercynian structures of the Dzungarian Alatau, Borohoro, and Bogdo-Ula (Bogdoshan) ranges; and Yu.-Z. - with the Hercynides of the Middle T.-Sh. In the northwestern direction, the Caledonides continue into the borders of Kazakhstan; the structures of the Caledonides form an arc convex to the south and parallel to the boundary with the Hercynides of the Sredinny T.-Sh. To the south-west the miogeosynclinal zone of the Caledonides extends along this boundary, and the eugeosynclinal zone is located to the northeast. The miogeosynclinal zone is composed of crystalline basement rocks and sedimentary formations of the late Proterozoic and early Paleozoic; the main effusive and flysch deposits of the early Paleozoic are common in the eugeosynclinal zone. Throughout the Northern T.-Sh. clastic and volcanogenic orogenic molasses of the Ordovician, Devonian and Carboniferous, granitoids of the early and middle Paleozoic are widespread.

Sredinny T.-Sh. was part of the miogeosynclinal zone of the Caledonides, in which, after the accumulation of the Devonian molasse, the formation of the miogeosynclinal deposits of the Devonian and Carboniferous occurred, and in the Late Paleozoic, the formation of the Hercynian folding. Granitoids of the Middle T.-Sh. have Late Proterozoic, Middle and Late Paleozoic age. Late Paleozoic acid volcanic deposits are common in the western part of the zone. Hercynian structures in most of the Middle T.-Sh. have a northeasterly direction. Sredinny T.-Sh. separated by the Talas-Fergana fault (See Talas-Fergana fault) into two parts offset from each other.

Hercynides of the Southern T.-Sh. they are distinguished by a wide development of folded-scaly and cover structures, in the structure of which eugeosynclinal and miogeosynclinal deposits take part: eugeosynclinal formations are represented by the main Middle Paleozoic volcanic rocks, ultramafic rocks and gabbroids; miogeosynclinal - sedimentary deposits of the early and middle Paleozoic. Molasse deposits and granitoids in the Southern T.-Sh. - Late Paleozoic age. Hercynian folded structures in the western part of the Southern T.-Sh. have a latitudinal direction, in the Ferghana Range - horizontal, to the east - northeast. In the south, Hercynides T.-Sh. limited by the Tarim and Tajik massifs of ancient rocks, on the site of which the Meso-Cenozoic depressions of the same name were formed.

Minerals in the Paleozoic and pre-Paleozoic rocks of the Tien Shan: mercury (Khaidarkan deposit, etc.), antimony (Kadamdzhai, etc.), lead, zinc, silver, tin, tungsten, arsenic, gold, optical raw materials, phosphorites (Karatau), mineral water etc. In the intermountain valleys in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic deposits there are deposits of oil (in the Ferghana Valley), brown and coal (Angren, Lenger, Sulukta, Kok-Yangak, etc.).

Climate determined by the position of T.-Sh. inside the mainland, in relatively low latitudes, among dry desert plains. The main part of the mountains lies in the temperate zone, but the Fergana ridges (Southwestern T.-Sh.) are on the border with the subtropical, experiencing the influence of dry subtropics, especially in the lower altitudinal belts. In general, the climate is characterized by sharp continentality, aridity, and a significant duration of sunshine (2500-3000 h/year). For the most part T.-Sh. (especially in the highlands) western transport predominates air masses, which is superimposed by the local mountain-valley circulation; in some areas, strong local winds are noted (for example, "ulan" and "santash" in the Issyk-Kul basin). Great heights, complexity and dissection of the relief cause sharp contrasts in the distribution of heat and moisture. In the valleys of the lower belt of mountains, the average temperature in July is 20-25 °C, in the middle-altitude valleys - 15-17 °C, at the foot of the glaciers up to 5 °C and lower. In winter, in the glacial-nival zone, frosts reach -30 °С. In the mid-altitude valleys, cold periods often alternate with thaws, although average January temperatures are usually below -6 °C. Temperature conditions allow the cultivation of grapes up to a height of 1400 m, rice before 1550 m(in Eastern T.-Sh.), wheat up to 2700 m, barley up to 3000 m. The amount of precipitation in the mountains of T.-Sh. increases with height. On the piedmont plains, it is 150-300 mm, in the foothills and low mountains 300-450 mm, in the middle mountains 450-800 mm, in the glacial-nival belt often over 800 mm, in places (in Western T.-Sh.) up to 1600 mm in year. In intramountain depressions, 200-400 mm precipitation per year (their eastern parts are more humid). For the most part T.-Sh. there is a summer maximum of precipitation, in the mountain frame of the Fergana and Talas valleys - spring.

Due to the significant dryness of the climate, the snow line in T.-Sh. located at an altitude of 3600-3800 m on S.-3. up to 4200-4450 m in Central T.-Sh.; in Eastern T.-Sh. it decreases (up to 4000-4200 m). There are numerous snowfields in the ridge zone, separate areas of T.-Sh. avalanches (mainly in spring).

The largest reserves of snow are concentrated on the northern and western slopes. At the foot of the ridges, snow usually lies no more than 2-3 month, in the middle mountains - 6-7 month, at the foot of glaciers - 9-10 months in a year. In intermountain basins, the snow cover is often thin; in places - year-round grazing.

Inland waters. Most of T.-Sh. refers to the area of ​​runoff formation. Rivers usually originate from snowfields and glaciers of the glacial-nival belt and end in drainless lake basins of Central and Central Asia, in the internal lakes of T.-Sh. or form the so-called "dry deltas", that is, their waters completely seep into the alluvial deposits of the piedmont plains and are disassembled for irrigation. The main rivers belong to the basin of the Syrdarya (Naryn, Karadarya), Talas, Chu, Ili (with the sources of Kunges and Tekes and the tributary of Kash), Manas, Tarim (Sarydzhaz, Kokshal, Muzart), Konchedarya (Khaidyk-Gol). Most rivers are characterized by an alternation of mountain gorges and valley extensions, where the river breaks into branches; combined with a large drop, this creates favorable opportunities for hydroelectric construction. On the largest river in the western part of the T.-Sh. - Naryn - a cascade of hydroelectric power stations; the Uchkurgan HPP was built, the Toktogul HPP is under construction (1976), and others. summer months- also glacial; maximum flow in late spring and summer. This enhances the national economic importance of the T.-Sh. plains.

The largest lakes of T.-Sh. of tectonic origin and are located within the bottoms of intermountain depressions. These include drainless, non-freezing, brackish lake Issyk-Kul, high-altitude (at an altitude of more than 3000 m) lakes Sonköl and Chatyrköl, covered with ice most of the year. There are also cirque and near-glacial lakes (including Lake Merzbacher, located between the glaciers of the Northern and Southern Inylchek). From the lakes of the Eastern T.-Sh. the largest lake is Bagrashkel, connected by the river. Konchedarya with lake Lobnor. On the syrt plains, mainly in the upper reaches of the river. Naryn, and in the depressions of the moraine relief there are many small lakes. A number of lakes of dammed origin are distinguished by considerable depth and steep banks (for example, Lake Sary-Chelek in the southern spurs of the Chatkal Range).

Glaciation. The area of ​​glaciation is 10.2 thous. km 2(of which about 80% in the territory of the USSR). The greatest glaciation is concentrated in the ridges of the Central T.-Sh. - Iren-Khabyrga and Khalyktau ridges. From the ridges of the Central T.-Sh. complex valley glaciers flow down; the largest - South Inylchek (length 59.5 km), Northern Inylchek (38.2 km) and the most significant glacier of the Eastern T.-Sh. - Kara-jailau (34 km). Characterized mainly by small valley, cirque, and hanging glaciers, while the Inner T.-Sh. flat top glaciers are common, lying on high leveling surfaces. Most of the glaciers of T.-Sh. is, apparently, in the stage of reduction, however, in 1950-70, the advance of individual glaciers was noted (Mushketov glaciers, Northern Karasai, etc.).

The main types of landscapes. The dryness and continentality of the climate determine the predominance in T.-Sh. mountain steppes and semi-deserts. Piedmont sloping plains, foothills of many ranges (mainly southern exposure) and the most arid areas within some intermountain basins (for example, in the western Naryn and Issyk-Kul basins) occupy desert landscapes in combination with semi-deserts (the predominant heights on the outer slopes of the mountains of the western parts T.-Sh. 800-1300 m, on the southern slopes of the Eastern T.-Sh. 1600-1800 m, in the intermountain depressions of the Inner T.-Sh. in places up to 2000 m). The main soils are low-humus gray soils on loess and loess-like loams, there are solonchaks and areas of stony-gravel deserts. Vegetation usually covers 5-10% of the surface. In Southwestern Turin, where precipitation occurs mainly in spring, ephemera and ephemeroids (bluegrass, desert sedge, astragalus, and others) are numerous. The rest of the territory is dominated by semi-shrubs - wormwood and saltwort, in the Eastern T.-Sh. - also ephedra, in some places thickets of saxaul.

The upper parts of the foothills and significant areas within the intermountain depressions are occupied by semi-deserts. On the northern slopes and along the bottoms of the depressions, they are usually located at an altitude of 1600-2100 m(in more humid valleys in some places down to 800 m), on the southern slopes of the ridges of the Eastern T.-Sh. rise up to 2200 m. The soils are dark gray soils and gray-brown semi-desert soils with a humus content of 2.5-3.5%, along the depressions of the relief - solonchaks and solonetzes. Vegetation covers 15-25% of the surface; wormwood-feather grass-saltwort communities predominate; in the Inner and Eastern T.-Sh. - also potashnik, caragana. Semi-deserts are used mainly as spring-autumn pastures (productivity 1-5 c/ha).

Steppes are the most widespread, located at altitudes from 1000-1200 to 2500-2600 m on the slopes of northern exposure in the western part of T.-Sh. and from 1800 to 3000 m on the southern slopes of the Eastern T.-Sh. They also occupy the bottoms of intermountain depressions up to a height of 3000-3200 m. The soils are light chestnut and light brown mountain-steppe. Grass-forb small sod steppes predominate. Vegetation covers about 50% of the surface. The basis of the cover vegetation is wormwood, fescue, feather grass, wheatgrass; in the eastern direction, the role of chiy, karagana is increasing. In the ranges of the Southwestern T.-Sh. - tall grasses (up to 70 cm) subtropical steppes on dark leached gray soils and brown soils with the participation of couch grass, bulbous barley, elecampane, prangosa, ferula, above which individual trees and shrubs (apricot, hawthorn, etc.) rise. Within the most humid eastern parts of the intermontane depressions, forb-grass meadow-steppes are formed on dark chestnut soils. Vegetation usually covers 80-90% of the surface. In the upper part of the steppe belt there are creeping forms of juniper. Steppes are used mainly as spring-summer pastures (productivity up to 10 c/ha).

Forests in T.-Sh. do not form a continuous belt, but are found in combination with steppes and meadows. In the peripheral ranges of the Northern and Southwestern T.-Sh. they are located in the middle mountains at an altitude of 1500-3000 m, in the interior regions of the mountains, the lower and upper boundaries of the forests rise (up to 2200 and 3200, respectively). m). Forests almost everywhere (with the exception of southwestern Kyrgyzstan) are located on the northern slopes, occupying the largest areas in the Zailiysky Alatau, Kungei-Alatau, Terskey-Alatau, Ketmen ridges, in the eastern part of the Atbashi ridge, as well as in the Bogdo-Ula and Iren- Khabyrga in Eastern T.-Sh. In the mountainous frame of the Ferghana Valley, forests grow on the southwestern and southern windward slopes, which causes their high moisture content. The lower part of the forest belt of the Zailiysky Alatau ridge is formed by wild apple, wild apricot (apricot), hawthorn, aspen, Semyonov's maple; in the undergrowth - shrubs (barberry, buckthorn, honeysuckle, euonymus, wild rose, etc.) on gray forest soils. Above 2000-2200 m deciduous forests give way to spruce forests on dark-colored mountain forest soils with a high (up to 15%) humus content. In the Inner and Eastern T.-Sh. The main forest-forming species is spruce, confined to areas of slopes with a northern exposure. On the bottoms of wide valleys and spurs and on more illuminated areas of the slopes, forests grow in combination with forb (from geranium, cuff, clover, iris) meadows of the subalpine type, used as summer pastures with a productivity of 15-20 c/ha. On the slopes of the southern orientation within the forest-meadow-steppe belt, steppes with areas of juniper (juniper) woodlands predominate.

The walnut-fruit forests of the southwestern T.-Sh., which are formed on mountain forest black-brown soils, are peculiar. Some researchers consider them as relict, preserved from the Neogene. These park-type forests of walnut, apple, maple with rich undergrowth (honeysuckle, cherry plum, almond, wild rose, buckthorn, etc.). In some valleys (for example, near Arslanbob), walnut forests have almost no admixture of other trees. Above 2000 m walnut-fruit forests are replaced by coniferous forests (from spruce and fir). In the Southwestern T.-Sh. in places there are pistachio groves. Lesa T.-Sh. are of great importance for water conservation. Walnut-fruit forests are used for harvesting nuts and ornamental wood.

Subalpine and alpine meadows are located mainly on the slopes of the northern exposure above 3000-3200 m; they usually do not form a continuous belt, alternating with rocks and screes almost devoid of vegetation. On thin mountain-meadow and meadow-marsh soils - forb-sedge, often swampy low-grass meadows; they are used as short-term summer pastures (productivity 5-10 c/ha).

On highly located (from 3000-3200 m up to 3400-3700 m) syrt plains of the Inner and Central T.-Sh. landscapes of the so-called "cold deserts" are widespread, the vegetation of which is represented by individual clumps of turf grasses, cushion-like communities (driadanta, etc.), in warmer areas - also by wormwood, on low-humus, often takyr-like soils; in places - sedge-kobresia meadows. They are used as summer pastures (productivity from 3-5 to 15 q/ha, on cooresia meadows).

Above 3400-3600 m landscapes of the glacial-nival belt (glaciers, snowfields, scree, rocks) are ubiquitous. The soil cover is unformed, the vegetation is represented mainly by rare mosses and lichens.

Animal world. For the flat, foothill and low-mountain regions of T.-Sh. representatives of the desert and steppe fauna are characteristic - goitered gazelle, ferret, tolai hare, ground squirrel, jerboas, gerbils, mole voles, wood mice, Turkestan rats, etc.; from reptiles - snakes (viper, muzzle, patterned snake), lizards; from birds - lark, wheatear, bustard, sandgrouse, partridge (partridge), imperial eagle, etc. Representatives of the forest fauna of middle mountains - wild boar, lynx, brown bear, badger, wolf, fox, marten, roe deer, acclimatized teleutka squirrel; from birds - crossbill, nutcracker. Marmots, pika, silver and narrow-skulled voles, mountain goats (teke), mountain sheep (argali), ermine live in the highlands and in some places in the middle mountains, snow leopard is occasionally found; of birds - alpine jackdaw, horned lark, finches, Himalayan snowcock, eagles, vultures, etc. On the lakes - waterfowl (ducks, geese), on Issyk-Kul during migration - swans, on Bagrashköl there are cormorant, black stork, etc. Many lakes are rich in fish (osman, chebak, marinka, etc.).

Protected areas. Within the Soviet part of T.-Sh. there are 5 reserves (1975) - Issyk-Kul, Alma-Ata, Aksu-Dzhabagly, Sary-Chelek, Chatkal mountain-forest, as well as a number of reserves (including in the territory of the walnut-fruit forests of southwestern T.-Sh. ).

Lit.: Semenov-Tyan-Shansky P.G., Journey to the Tien-Shan, M., 1958; Chupakhin V. M., Physical geography of the Tien Shan, A.-A., 1964; Sinitsyn V. M., Central Asia, M., 1959; Dovzhikov A. E., Zubtsov E. I., Argutina T. A., Tien Shan folded system, in the book: Geological structure of the USSR, vol. 2, M., 1968; Geology of the USSR, v. 23 - Uzbek SSR, M., 1972; v. 24 - Tajik SSR, M., 1959; v. 25 - Kirghiz SSR, M., 1972; Shults S. S., Analysis of the latest tectonics and the relief of the Tien Shan, M., 1948; Nature of Kyrgyzstan, French, 1962; Murzaev E. M., The nature of Xinjiang and the formation of the deserts of Central Asia, M., 1966; Central Asia, M., 1968; Physico-geographical zoning of the USSR, M., 1968; Shults V. L., Rivers of Central Asia, L., 1965; Gvozdetsky N. A., Mikhailov N. I., Physical Geography of the USSR. Asian part, 2nd ed., M., 1970; Plains and mountains of Central Asia and Kazakhstan, M., 1975.

V. A. Blagobrazov, N. A. Gvozdetsky(physical and geographical sketch),

V. S. Burtman(geological structure and minerals).

Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

Synonyms:

See what "Tien Shan" is in other dictionaries:

Mountain system in the Middle and Center. Asia; Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, China. The name Tien Shan Heavenly Mountains represents a whale. tracing paper of the original Mong. Turk, the name Tengri Tag with the same meaning (Mong. tenger sky, Turk, tag mountain), accepted ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia

On the territory of the mountain system dominates sharply continental climate. Rare precipitation, dry air, light winds and significant temperature changes - these are the features of the area. The winter period is unusually fierce for local latitudes. In the summer months, it is hot in the foothills and valleys, and fresh and cool in the mountains.

The Tien Shan lazily basks in the sun - there is enough light here. On average, the mountain system receives from 2500 to 2700 hours of sunlight per year. For comparison, Moscow accounts for only 1600 hours. In March and April, the picturesque picture is complemented by cloudiness. In August and September, the sky, on the contrary, is clear - not a single cloud. The Tien Shan mountains welcome guests most cordially from May to October: intoxicating aromas of plants, flowering carpet and a generous scattering of berries.

On the way to the Torugart pass. Tien Shan mountains

Exploring the mysterious mountain system

Mentions of the Tien Shan Range are found in ancient writings and notes. Descriptions of expeditions to these places have been preserved, but they are more reminiscent of fiction than reliable facts. The Russian explorer Pyotr Semenov discovered the mountainous "country" and spoke in detail about it.

Up to this point, European information about the Tien Shan remained scarce. For example, the German encyclopedist and geographer Alexander Humboldt believed that the main part of the mountain system was fire-breathing volcanoes. The Chinese sources did not fill in the knowledge gaps. In one of them, which belongs to 7th century, it was mentioned: in the famous local lake Issyk-Kul "dragons and fish live together."

Semyonov began to think about the Tien Shan when he undertook serious work - translating into Russian the book of the work of the German scientist Karl Ritter "Earth Science of Asia". The task for the young researcher was assigned by the Russian Geographical Society. Semenov approached the task creatively: he not only translated the text, but also provided additional materials from scientific sources. There was little information about the vast Asian expanses, but I really wanted to see the mountains with my own eyes.

For three years the explorer had been preparing the expedition. Humboldt himself blessed the scientist for this risky venture, asking him to bring fragments of Tien Shan rocks as a present. In the spring of 1855, the explorer set off. The artist Kosharov went with him, whose images complement the memoirs of the Russian geographer. The expedition climbed from Alma-Ata to the Issyk-Kul lake. The book "Journey to the Tien Shan" is filled with impressions from the trip.

After returning home in 1857, Semyonov proposed to the Geographical Society to conduct another expedition, but no funds were found for it. In the future, his ideas prompted other researchers to study Central Asia. For Semenov's contribution, half a century later, he was officially given an additional surname - Tyan-Shansky.

"Glum Giant"

The dream of many climbers is to conquer Pobeda Peak, which is located on the border of Kyrgyzstan and China. This beautiful pinnacle has serious requirements for moral and physical training daredevils. Despite the huge growth of 7439 meters, the peak remained unnoticed for a long time.

In 1936, a group of climbers enthusiastically set off to conquer Khan Tengri. It was believed that this highest peak Tien Shan. During the expedition, the group noticed a nearby mountain, which competed in height with Khan Tengri. A few years later, climbers headed by Leonid Gutman went to her. The famous Tien Shan explorer August Letavet joined the group. In 11 days, with an almost absolute lack of visibility, we managed to reach the summit. The exact height was determined only in 1943.

From the side, Pobeda Peak resembles a huge, gloomy giant who decided to rest. But the pampered appearance is deceptive: climbers face inclement weather. Only occasionally the northern seven-thousander changes anger to mercy. Severe frosts and snow storms, avalanches and a chilling wind - the mountain tests all the endurance of the daredevils who dared to climb it. The best type of temporary shelter remains a snow cave. No wonder the Pobeda Peak is called the most impregnable and formidable seven-thousander.

But it is difficult to accurately determine the top of the peak - it is smoothed and stretched, so the summit tour was located in different places. In the early 90s, a group of Minskers did not even count the ascent: there was severe bad weather and they could not find the mark of the previous team.

"Lord of Heaven"

Pobeda Peak's neighbor is the formidable Khan-Tengri (6995 meters). It is called one of the most beautiful peaks in the world. Correct pyramidal shape mysterious name"Lord of heaven" fascinate climbers. The Kazakhs and Kyrgyz have their own name for the peak - Kan-Too. During sunset, the surrounding mountains are plunged into darkness, and only this peak takes on a reddish tint. The shadows of the surrounding clouds create the effect of flowing scarlet jets. This effect is created by pink marble, which is part of the mountain. The ancient Turkic peoples believed that the supreme deity lives on a hill.

Khan Tengri was conquered for the first time in 1936. The classic climbing route on the mountain peak runs along the West Ridge. It is not so simple: if there are only a few simple routes in the track record, you should not even try to defeat the “Lord of Heaven”. The northern part of the mountain is steeper than the southern one. But there is less likelihood of ice collapses and avalanches. Prepares Khan Tengri and other "surprises": bad weather, low temperatures, hurricane winds.

Khan Tengri and Pobeda peak belong to the Central Tien Shan. From the center to the west there are three mountain ranges, which are separated by intermountain basins. They are united by the Ferghana Range. Two parallel mountain ranges stretched to the east.

“Slimming” Tien Shan glaciers

The high part of the mountain system is covered with glaciers. Some of them are hanging, which pose a danger to climbers. Glaciers are beneficial for local peoples - they fill the rivers of four countries and are a source of fresh water for the population. But the ice reserves are beginning to dry up. Over the past fifty years, they have decreased by almost a quarter. The area of ​​glaciers has decreased by 3 thousand square meters. km - a little more than Moscow. Since the 1970s, the ice part began to disappear more actively. According to scientists, by the middle of the 21st century, the Celestial Mountains will have lost 50% of their reserves. The changes could leave four countries without a water resource.

Melting glaciers in the Tien Shan

Flowers at the foot of the mountains

In spring, the slopes of the mountains are filled with life. The glaciers are melting, and the water goes to the foot of the mountains. The semi-deserts are adorned with ephemeral grasses, the steppes - with wild onions, shrubs and tulips. There are coniferous forests and meadows on the territory of the Tien Shan. Junipers are common. There is a lot of golden root and blackberry here. There are dangerous "inhabitants" - Sosnovsky's cow parsnip. If you touch it, you can get burned. Greig's tulip also grows here, in which the petals reach 75 mm.

In the vicinity of the mountains there are many species of plants and animals that live only here. This is the saker falcon, and the red wolf, and Menzbir's marmot. Another difference of the Tien Shan is the neighborhood of animals and plants of different latitudes. South Indian porcupine and northern roe deer, walnut and fir live together. There are representatives of the steppes, deserts, forests, mountains here ... Thanks to this, several reserves have been created within the mountain system.

Non-freezing lake and its "neighbors"

They feel comfortable on the territory of the mountain system and the lake. The largest is Issyk-Kul. It is located in a deep depression between two ridges in the territory of Kyrgyzstan. Its water is slightly brackish. From the local language, the name is translated as "warm". The lake lives up to its name - its surface never freezes.

The reservoir occupies more than 6 thousand square meters. km. A tourist zone is located along it: hotels, boarding houses, guest houses. The southern shore is less built up, but more picturesque - silence, mountain air, snow-capped peaks, hot springs nearby ... The lake is so transparent that you can see the bottom. The coast resembles a seaside resort - there is something for everyone. You can bask on the beach, go fishing or go on an excursion to the mountains.

Lake Tianchi is located in the Tien Shan Mountains, a hundred kilometers from Urumqi (China). The locals called it the "Pearl of the Heavenly Mountain". The lake is fed by melt water, because it is crystal clear. The most spectacular mountain in the vicinity is Bogdafeng Peak, whose height exceeds 6 thousand meters. The best time to visit is from May to September.

Hiking and bike tours

Hiking in the Tien Shan mountains often includes a tour of Issyk-Kul. Several days of passes surrounded by peaks of five thousand meters, emerald mountain reservoirs, acquaintance with the most famous local attractions - all this includes a hiking route. Travelers admire the local blue spruce and juniper thickets, an abundance of flowers and waterfalls, bathe in hot springs and relax on the coast of a healing lake. Sometimes the routes involve acquaintance with the simple life of nomadic shepherds.

Tourists are especially interested in the Northern Tien Shan and the Kyrgyz Range. Both areas have easy access. They are not crowded, untouched by civilization. You can make simple hikes or pick up difficult routes. The best time to travel is July-August. Experienced tourists are advised to be careful about trusting information that is 20 years old or more. Due to the melting of glaciers, some routes have become easier, others have become more difficult and dangerous to overcome.

Residents of Russia do not need foreign passports to travel to Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan. Upon arrival, you must register. The attitude towards tourists is hospitable, and there are no language problems. The transport accessibility of the mountains is different. The easiest way to get to those that are near Alma-Ata: Western Dzhungaria and Zailiysky Alatau. There is also excellent access to the mountains located near Tashkent and Bishkek. You can also get to the picturesque places that are located near Lake Issyk-Kul. The remaining regions of the Kyrgyz and Chinese Tien Shan are inaccessible.

Cycling tours are also carried out in the Tien Shan mountains. There are opportunities for cycling, cross-country, and road pedaling. The sultry Asian summer, sands and impassability will test the strength of the traveler. Landscapes change: semi-deserts, deserts, mountain ranges. After the bike tour, you can stop at Issyk-Kul Lake and visit the cities of the famous Silk Road along the way.

mountain dwellers

Tien Shan attracts not only adventure seekers. For some people, the slopes of the mountains are their home. At the end of spring, local nomadic shepherds set up the first yurts. Everything is thought out in such mini-houses: kitchen, bedroom, dining room, living room. Yurts are made of felt. Inside is comfortable even during frosts. Instead of beds, there are thick mattresses laid on the floor. Semyonov also observed the economy and life of the Kazakhs and Kirghiz in the vicinity of the Tien Shan. In personal reports, the scientist described visits to Kyrgyz villages, individual meetings with local residents during the expedition.

Before the revolution, the yurt was considered by the Kirghiz to be the main type of dwelling. Today, the design has not lost its significance, since much attention is still paid to animal husbandry. It is placed near ordinary houses. In the heat, the family rests there, meets guests.

From the blogger's memoirs: Low emerald grass underfoot, endless blue sky above. Somewhere in the distance above the clouds, very close to space, a snow-white dragon is sleeping - ancient, like our world.

The heavy silver plates of his spine glowed bright ruby ​​against the deep sea of ​​sky. The sharp, horse-bitten grass underfoot is covered with evening dew. We see off our last day in the Celestial Mountains, remembering how we managed to climb almost into space.
The plane landed in Alma-Ata. It turned out to be cheaper than flying to Bishkek. At night we have to get to Karakol. We drive along the Zailiysky Alatau to Bishkek. The sun sets behind the desert land of Kazakhstan, illuminating the vastness of the ocher mountains with its last rays. Night border with Kyrgyzstan - and we are already half asleep driving a Delica (this is such an all-wheel drive minibus based on a Mitsubishi Pajero) along Kyrgyz roads. It was one of the most difficult nights for me: the driver, a rude Russian peasant, apparently had not slept for several days. And the Delica is a car from Japan, right-hand drive - and sitting in the traditional driver's seat for me turned out to be like riding a roller coaster, the bolts of which are ready to pop out at any moment. The night was too long - for me and for the driver. In the morning, before dawn, through half-asleep, I saw soft, barely noticeable waves of the Issyk-Kul mirror. A huge lake spilled over the valley like a crimson dawn. The driver is very ill in the morning - he is shaking, shaking from lack of sleep, turning inside out. Cold water, nuts, wind in the face - almost nothing helps. Sometimes he is cut down right on the road, and the car is taken to the side, into the units of oncoming cars. A couple of times you have to push the steering wheel to avoid a collision and wake up the poor fellow. Already ahead looms the peak of the Crystal Mountains with a pink tooth. Dawn brings life and lightness, releases a little fear for their children. A slender row of poplars, Karakol Bay - all this is now perceived as a gateway to a new world.
The car brought us to the Khanina camp site. It is the patron saint of all local tourists. A short, mustachioed, bald man, calm as a rock, opens the gates of his house for us early in the morning so that we can prepare for the first meeting with the Tien Shan. Based on the sad experience of last night, I decide that it would also be better to turn to Khanin for a transfer from Alma-Ata. You can rent equipment from Igor, and buy gas, and throw yourself into the mountains on a watchman, and in the virtual absence of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergencies, he fulfills his role. But at the same time, of course, you need insurance, ready even before the trip itself.
The watchman is actively smearing us on the seats on the mountain road. It's probably hard to come up with a car more suitable than ZIL for mountain roads and rocking tourists (rather, turning us into scrambled eggs).
The watchman brought us to the Karakol alpine camp. "Alpine camp" - it is said loudly, there are only a few large canvas tents, but there is everything a tourist needs: food, a bathhouse on wheels (for a couple of people), a clearing for tents. The only stone structure of the camp is a toilet.
1. It is very convenient to walk radial routes for several days around the Karakol alpine camp - which we took advantage of. Tourists visiting the Tien Shan have a long and very strange tradition of winding loops around Lake Alakol and the Karakol alpine camp. Someone is attracted by aesthetics: views of the lake from the passes, snowy peaks. And for some, it’s just an opportunity to devour another watermelon in the alpine camp upon completion of the ring and drag another one to the foot of the glacier, leaving part of the equipment in the alpine camp.
So we - left the cast, prudently made sure that there were watermelons - and hit the road. From the Karakol alpine camp, a path rises up through thickets, clearings and dense forests. The trail leads up through waterfalls and gorges. Further, closer to the sky, clouds. The sun here becomes brighter, there is less air, but the pleasant azure above your head gives you the strength to move towards the goal - to Lake Alakol. Thus begins our wonderful journey through the emerald Heavenly Mountains. It seems that the abyss separates us from the distant sharp peaks, soaring like elegant crystal above the clouds.


2. After the city, the first days are so unusual to feel in this world! There is fresh air, wind in the face, heavy climbs, and delicious dinners by the murmuring streams. You remember - and at first you do not believe that such worlds exist. You think - dreamed. But closing your eyes, you see and feel how the wind smoothes the grass on the peaks, and the mountains pick up the clouds, playing with them on the fly.


3. A kilometer of climb on the first day is not easy: we crawl like a train along a mountain path through fields of flowers, crossing streams, stopping in the shade of trees. Despite the severity of the route, you feel light and free.
4. The reward for our efforts is a view of the evening lake Alakol at an altitude of 3.5 thousand meters. The lake feeds a large glacier from the Karakol wall, and it flows out into a narrow drain. As if someone pulled a cork from the banks - and the lake slowly merges, giving rise to a large waterfall. We decide to stand on the other side of the "plum". It would seem that one jump - and you are on the other side. But I am very worried about my guys: below is an abyss, the water rushes down in a raging stream of a waterfall.


5. In the evening - our first stop on the lake. Milky Way here it is clearly visible, the night is cold and moonless. While filming - I almost sat in the lake, but it is getting colder! (however, this did not discourage the girls from swimming).

6. In the morning - early rise, we climb the Alakol Northern pass to look at the lake from above, and go down to the Arashan valley. Means "Alakel" in Kyrgyz "Motley Lake". And like any self-respecting mountain lake, its color changes from the strength of the wind, light, weather. Meteorologists say so, but we believe that the motley lake has its own character. For example, on this gloomy day, the lake seems to glow from the inside, not letting us get bored.


7. And someone even left a heart here.

8. Leaden clouds fly from Issyk-Kul in the afternoon. As it turns out, it's like this every day. The morning is clear, with the freshness of the mountains, with pure colors, welcomes us, and the clouds see us off into the night, sometimes pouring rain or meeting with snow. I am always accompanied by a couple of kind angels, so I managed to capture them - they are trying to conjure the sun. Yes, yes, did you think that only the camera takes pictures? Angels are also very important.


9. After sitting a little above the clouds, approaching the Cosmos, we slowly descend down to the Arashan valley.


10. It is hardly possible to meet mountains greener than the Tien Shan. And at sunset, the small grass gently reflects the rays falling on it - and it seems that millions of sun hares playfully skip between the emerald blades of grass. The mountains live, breathe and wait for the traveler, and the sun sometimes sends him farewell rays on a cool evening. On the way we meet yurts, the Kirghiz affably wave to us, smiling with silver teeth.


11. Somewhere in the Arashan valley thermal hydrosulphuric springs are hidden, but we pass by - we go around the ridge and again come under the snowy wall of the mountains.

12. The Tien Shan cannot be confused with any mountains: such an abundance of livestock, green lawns, and the highest peaks cannot be found anywhere else. The pines in the valleys pierce the sky with tall straight arrows, the horses follow us with their eyes. It is felt that the mountains breathe, live - these are the brightest, greenest mountains that I have been to. Even on a cloudy day at the foot of the glaciers, emerald fields of short grass spread out before the viewer.


13. And our path goes up again. We made the route with rings - so that you can always go down to the alpine camp. And it is always difficult to understand the scale when planning on the map: almost every day we had to either climb or descend a whole kilometer! So it is today: a long, drawn-out ascent under the pass among the cold mountains, under a drizzling rain.


14. High in the mountains is already a completely different world. Rocks dominate here, harsh, cold stones surround small meadows of grass. But even here brooks murmur, ground squirrels busily peep out of minks, and whistle warily. The whistle is reflected by a booming echo from the massif of mountains.


15. It feels like you are preparing to storm a large castle.

16. Morning meets with fog, we climbed under the very clouds. Taking the Taktyktor Pass in such weather is not an easy task. So we prepare as best we can.


17. For example, we smear ourselves with cream (a very urgent task because there is nothing to do!).

18. We storm stone walls and sharp rocks.

19. A traditionally wonderful view opens up on the glacial lakes under the Taktyktor pass (in the common people - Traktor). It seems that meteorites fired at the earth and left such funnels. Somewhere on the right, traces of tourists are lost, we are descending along them.


20. Falling down to the waist in sleet, it's hard to go. The glacier is closed, with a lot of snow - so we go in bundles. We pass the remains of the first "meteorite".


21. Wet, frozen, but happy, we get out to the open part of the glacier, where the ice under our feet is already solid. It feels like you are standing in a bowl of crystal, the mountains propping up the sky. Here it is so close to the sky, to the clouds, that it seems that you can reach them with your hand. Sasha encroaches on the nearest peak :-)

22. Impressive snow cornices rise on the peaks, and somewhere below, in the valley, the emerald grass is still green, and the rivers are noisy.


23. Rock climbers, girls won the Traktor Pass.

24. To understand the scale of the "glacial puddle" - you can look for a person in the frame. A giant dish with soft edges attracts, between such lakes there is a complex system of ice bridges.


25. The glacier meanders with tongues, crashing into the mountains in soft lines. We descend along it, but the piercing wind does not let us in, meeting us with new sharp gusts.


26. But in the parking lot, the sun and soft grass, flowering fields and lakes lost in pockets of moraines await us. Streams from the glacier gather into a large swift stream, which spreads like an oasis at the foot of the valley, nourishing the soil.

27. From the book about Semenov Tien Shan:
“From the moment Semyonov saw the Heavenly Mountains, they bewitched him. He kept looking at the snowy and colorful peaks, discovering more and more beauty in them. Their giant horseshoe hung over wild gardens, over the Ili valley. Semyonov saw how weightless clouds were born in dark gaps. With unfathomable rapidity they gather into thunderclouds, and stifling direct downpours fall upon the valleys. He saw the green and dark spots of the gardens, they floated on each other, connected with each other and changed colors, like waves in the solar wind. And on the left was the Kirghiz steppe, already quite reminiscent of a foggy sea. It shimmered like the sea with smoky air, unsteady billows of sand, wide shadows of clouds sliding in all directions.


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32. By evening, giant clouds rise again from Issyk-Kul. They are measured and decorous, waddling over the ridges. As if reluctantly climb to the top. And through them the evening sun begins to break through.


33. It turns out that we have chosen the most beautiful point for spending the night - from here you can see both the lake and the setting sun. This is a place for meditation, contemplation of the wonderful phenomena of nature.


34. And nature did not stint on them: a wonderful rainbow over the Heavenly mountains appeared for a moment in the rays of the setting sun.


35. When such wonderful things happen in the mountains, you want to jump for joy, happiness. Everything happens in a matter of seconds - but so many emotions: wind, rain, and snow over the peaks of the mountains. The light moves, emphasizes the contours of the mountains. The landscape comes to life, spiritualizes at such moments.


36. In the evening, all the flowers drooped, the cold descended from the sky, and filled with heavy tones all the shadows of the stones.


37. And in the morning - again the warm sun, the quiet air of the valley. And only the whistle of marmots pierces the pure, clear atmosphere with an arrow.


38. One of the moraine lakes (which in the photographs from above seemed like a heart), reflects the deep wrinkles of the ancient mountains.


39. Our "motley lake" is very calm today. Still lazily sleeping in the reflection of the azure sky, keeping the calm of the morning in cozy bays.

40. Today we have to return to the “drain” of the lake again, walk along its right bank.


41. The tranquility of the lake is short-lived - after a while it will slowly wake up, stretch, and again change its mood to some other color - whatever it wants today.


42. It is especially pleasant to find yourself on the shore of Alakol after the glacier - the warmth of the sun warms the soul.

43. And in the next part we will continue our journey through the Tien Shan, we will go to new peaks! :-)