Altai mountains height above sea level. Mountains, Altai: Belukha - the highest peak, Mount Sinyukha, Babyrgan, Charming, mountains of the Mountain Charysh region, Altai mountains, Gorny Altai

Geological structure and a long history of relief formation reveal a picture of the origin of the plains and mountains. In the Archean, Proterozoic and at the beginning of the Paleozoic, the territory of Altai was covered by the sea - it was part of a vast geosynclinal region stretching between the Russian and Siberian platforms. In the Paleozoic, powerful tectonic movements took place, the seabed experienced a significant fluctuation in the horizontal and vertical directions.

At the end of the Paleozoic, on the site of the modern plains of the region, land arose, which experienced oscillatory movements. At the beginning of the Mesozoic, there is a slow sinking of the land and the formation of troughs. One of such troughs is the Kulunda lowland.

In the middle of the Mesozoic (Jurassic period), the land sank so much that again the sea covered almost the entire flat part of the region.

In the next Cenozoic era (Paleogene), the lowering of the base of the Altai plains continued and the sea existed until the Neogene period. Sedimentary rocks of the ancient Paleogene sea leveled small depressions, and when the sea receded, the perfectly flat surface of the Kulunda lowland remained.

The maximum thickness of sedimentary deposits accumulated on the plain over all geological eras reaches 3000 m. The crystalline rocks that form the bases of the plains are located at great depths.

In the Quaternary period, the plains experience tectonic movements of an eiperogenic nature. The terrain is slowly sinking. Favorable conditions are created for the accumulation of sediments, mainly due to the material brought by the rivers. In the Quaternary, the relief of the plains is formed.

At the base of the plains of the region lies a section of the West Siberian plate. The West Siberian plate is part of a young Paleozoic platform composed of Hercynian and Caledonian folded structures overlain by a thick sedimentary cover.

Geological history The Altai mountains are more complex than the plains. The base of the Altai Mountains is composed of the same structures of the young Paleozoic platform as the plains, only they are not covered by sedimentary deposits and come to the surface. Altai mountains are part of a vast mountainous country that arose in areas of the Paleozoic Sea and occupies a territory stretching for thousands of kilometers from Altai south to the Tien Shan, west to the Urals, east to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Sea of ​​Japan.

The beginning of the formation of the Altai Mountains refers to the Caledonian folding, when the northeastern ranges arose, located east of the Katun. The sea still existed in the southwest. At the end of the Paleozoic, in the Hercynian era, the bottom of the sea crumpled into folds, internal forces squeezed them up, forming a mountainous country. Mountain-building movements were accompanied by strong volcanic eruptions, pouring lava onto the surface of young folds. A folded mountain country rose high above the vast plain.

In the Mesozoic era, the Altai Mountains were gradually destroyed under the influence of the sun, wind and other forces of nature. Over millions of years, the former mountainous country has turned into a flat, vast elevated plain with single elevated areas protruding in the form of remnants. There were lakes and swamps everywhere.

In the Cenozoic era, tectonic processes of Alpine mountain building reappear in Altai, which proceeded in a special way, due to the fact that the land passed into a platform state. Flat areas, consisting of destroyed folds, could no longer compress, since the rocks were very hard, the earth's crust lost its mobility. Under the influence of tectonic processes, faults arise, separate blocks are formed, which move one on top of the other, simultaneously rise and split.

Tectonic movements in the Altai Mountains were accompanied by intense volcanic activity, under their influence, magma rushed into the cracks and poured out to the surface. With the vertical movement of the layers of the earth's crust, horsts and grabens were formed. The greatest uplifts occurred in the southern part, where a mountainous country formed instead of an elevated plain.

Cooling began in the Quaternary period. In the Altai Mountains, high-elevated flat areas were covered with thick layers of ice. Glaciers slowly slid down the slopes of the mountains. After the first glaciation, the interglacial period began, during which tectonic movements resumed. There is a sinking and raising of land along the lines of old and new faults. The formation of the Teletskoye Lake graben dates back to this time. Melt waters do a great deal of destructive work, forming deep river valleys.

With climate warming, there was a gradual reduction in glaciers, which continues to this day. During the melting of ancient glaciers, powerful streams of water were formed, which carried away a huge amount of gravel and sand to the plains.

Melted glacial waters flowed into the region of the Kulunda lowland, where vast lakes arose. Some of the lakes of Kulunda are the remains of these dried-up reservoirs. Clays were deposited in glacial lakes. In the interfluve of the Biya and Katun, in the foothills of Altai, loess-like deposits up to 25 m thick were formed. In river valleys, on the slopes of hills, along watersheds, loess-like deposits filled the negative surface forms and gave the relief a smooth character.

The second mountainous region is represented by the Salair Ridge. The Salair Ridge has a complex complex of layers of the earth's crust of various ages. This is explained by the location of the ridge on the border between the mobile areas of land, where the formation of the Altai mountain system was going on, and the giant stable block of the Siberian platform.

The beginning of the formation of Salair belongs to the Caledonian era of folding, its final formation took place in the Hercynian time. Since then, weathering of the rocks of Salair has been taking place. From the slopes of the ridge, the destruction products are carried to the Kuznetsk basin and to the west - to the Chumysh and Biya valleys. In the central part of the Salair Ridge, ancient layers come to the surface. In low places they are overlain by later deposits.

Golden Mountains of Altai (Republic of Altai, Russia) - detailed description, location, reviews, photos and videos.

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The Golden Mountains of Altai is the name of the area inscribed on the UNESCO List in 1998 for its unique natural features. The total area is more than 16 thousand square meters. km, this includes three natural attractions of the Altai Mountains at once: the Ukok plateau and two reserves - Altai and Katunsky. It is in these territories that such pearls of the Altai Republic as Teletskoye Lake and Mount Belukha are located - they are known not only in Russia, but also far beyond its borders among tourists who love extreme sports and adrenaline and natural beauty.

On the territory of the Golden Mountains of Altai there are such pearls of this area as Lake Teletskoye and Mount Belukha.

These significant places were chosen because it is here that one can observe the nature of the Alpine geographical zone most vividly and fully, and not only its vegetation, but also animal world, among which there are very rare species. In addition, some historical sights are located here, for example, the Pazyryk burial grounds - Scythian burial mounds of the Iron Age. Tourists often call the Golden Mountains of Altai a museum under open sky.

In 2000, the Katunsky Reserve received the status of a biosphere reserve, which means that it is open for tourists to visit, and the purpose of its creation is precisely to demonstrate the harmonious interaction between man and nature. Belukha Mountain is located in this reserve - the highest peak of Altai, also called the Three-Headed. Trekking is very common here - hiking with climbing to the top, and there are several camp sites on the slopes.

Teletskoye lake is not only unique natural place, but also a "place of power", a shrine for many Asian peoples - located on the territory of the Altai Reserve.

The territory of the lake is considered the most popular place for tourism in the entire Altai Territory. There are many waterfalls here, and on one of them - Korbu - there is tourist centre Altai Reserve. In addition, it is worth visiting the delta of the Chulyshman River, Kamenny Bay, picturesque grottoes and caves. The Altai Reserve was formed back in 1930, and the area it occupies is almost 10% of the entire territory of the Altai Republic.

The natural park on the Ukok Plateau, in its southern part, is called the "Quiet Zone". This area belongs to Russian Federation, but borders on Mongolia and Kazakhstan. There are three functional zones, only one of which allows excursions. It is on the Ukok plateau that rare species of plants grow, endangered species of birds and even animals such as the snow leopard and argali mountain sheep are found.

Practical information

Getting to the Golden Mountains of Altai is not difficult, but all three objects included in this natural attraction are quite far from each other. Therefore, it is worth planning your trip in advance and decide on the places you want to visit.

• Altai Reserve: Gorno-Altaisk, Naberezhny lane, 1;
• Katunsky Reserve: with. Ust-Koksa, st. Zapovednaya, 1;
• Natural park "Ukok Quiet Zone": with. Kosh-Agach, st. Communal, 14.

Golden mountains - this is how the word Altai is translated. And it is difficult to argue with this, as Altai does not have many rivals in terms of natural beauty. The Altai Mountains are the highest part of Siberia and are located on the land of two subjects of the country - the Republic of Altai and Altai Territory. They call it Russian Tibet amazing place. mountain rivers, crystal lakes, seething waterfalls, endless coniferous forests and alpine meadows - the generosity of the nature of these places conquers forever.

All about the golden mountains of Altai

AT Altai mountains the Biya and Katun rivers are born, from the confluence of which the Ob is born - one of the deepest and longest rivers in Russia.

The highest ridge of the Altai Mountains is the Katunsky. The Altai Mountains are famous for their caves, of which there are many. - the edge of waterfalls, the highest Tekelu flows into the Akkem River.

Winter in the region is long, up to 5 months. But in the area of ​​Lake Teletskoye, winter pleases with comfortable ten degrees of frost. In summer, daylight hours in the region last from 17 to 17 hours - this is more than in Yalta or Sochi.

The Ukok Plateau is a place of burial mounds. Locals believe that the plateau is special sacred place to whom they entrust the bodies of the dead. Unique nature these places inspired Nicholas Roerich to create paintings. In the village of Upper Uimon there is a museum of the painter.

Chemal is a picturesque area of ​​the Altai Mountains, where the Katun carries its waters past rocky mountains that fascinate with their impregnability.

Seven reservoirs of amazing beauty, stretching in a chain along the western slope of the Iolgo ridge.

Lower Shavlinskoye Lake is located surrounded by mountains in the vicinity of the village of Chibit. Pagan idols are installed on the shore of the reservoir.

The discovery of the Denisova Cave, located in the valley of the Anui River in the Soloneshsky District, has become a notable event in world archeology. The remains of a 42,000-year-old man were found in the cave. The cave is accessible to people with any level of physical fitness.

Altai cave, one of the deepest and longest in Siberia and Altai, goes down 240 meters, and its length is 2540 meters. This natural attraction is located in the village of Cheremshanka in the Altai Territory. The Altai cave is actively visited by amateur tourists and professional speleologists.

Included in the Katunsky Range and revered by local residents as sacred - the highest point in Siberia and Altai, towering over picturesque valleys Ukok plateau at 4509 meters. Belukha is located at an equidistant distance from the four world oceans and is the geographical center of Eurasia. Origins of the main Altai river Katun originate in the Belukha glaciers.

Why and why you need to see the Altai mountains

Those who love sports tourism have been visiting the Altai Mountains for many years. Mountain rivers of Altai are great for rafting. Speleologists descend into mysterious caves, and for climbers Mountain peaks Altai is a favorite place. lovers hiking you will see many places of bewitching beauty. Equestrian tourism is also developed in Altai, which makes it possible to visit the most inaccessible corners of the region.

Fishing in the Altai Mountains attracts tourists not only from nearby regions, but also from the European part of Russia. Local rivers are rich in delicious grayling, taimen, whitefish and rainbow trout.

People go to Altai to improve their health and relax in one of the most environmentally friendly places on Earth. The region is famous for its healing thermal springs. Belokurikha is the most famous Altai resort, famous for its unique microclimate and good opportunities for active rest in any season. At the service of tourists is a chairlift that lifts the guests of the resort to Mount Tserkovka (height 815 meters), from the top of which a stunning view of the Altai expanses opens.

One of business cards The Altai Mountains - deer, on the treatment of antlers which is based on an entire medical industry. On the basis of many marals, medical bases have been created, where vacationers improve their health among mountains and forests, enjoying peace and quiet in the bosom of Altai nature.

Visitors are welcome in winter ski resorts Altai - Manzherok, Belokurikha, Turquoise Katun, Seminsky pass.

Helpful information

Going to Altai even at the height of summer, be sure to take warm clothes - in the mountains, the night temperature can drop to +5°C.

Altai is a region where a tick carrying encephalitis and other dangerous infections is widespread. For protection, it is recommended to get vaccinated in advance. Also stock up on appropriate repellents.

Popular souvenirs from the Altai Mountains - honey, antlers, pine nuts, teas from alpine herbs, original wooden products of local residents, amulets, national musical instruments and household items.

And remember, from tourists locals expect respect for their land, ancestors and wildlife.

How to get to the Altai Mountains

Fly or go to Barnaul, or Biysk, and then go by buses and cars to your destination.

The Aviasales.ru service will help you choose a plane ticket. In a matter of minutes, the metasearch engine will select the cheapest flights for the desired date.

The cheapest tickets from Moscow to Barnaul and back

Mount Belukha is a symbol of Altai, a cross-border object at the junction of the borders of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation. This is the most high mountain Altai and Siberia (4506 m), its slopes are covered with eternal snow and glaciers. This is the realm of snow, ice, thundering avalanches and sparkling waterfalls. Since time immemorial, it has been attracting tourists from all over the world like a magnet.

Excerpts from the photo diary of a trip to Belukha ...

1. We pass the last 50 km to the destination of our trip on foot, otherwise it is impossible to get there (except by helicopter). We carefully cross the bridge over the Belaya Berel River, built in 1938.

The river originates a little higher from the Berel glaciers at the foot of Belukha, flowing out of an ice grotto. It got its name for the milky-white color of the water of dissolved minerals.

2. The bridge over the Belaya Berel river is quite difficult engineering structure serving for over 75 years. It was built of larch and hammered together with forged nails.

3. Approaching the Lower Camp (at the foot of Belukha) the first thing you hear is the noise of the largest Kokkolsky waterfall in Altai. At the confluence with Belaya Berelya, the bed of the Bolshaya Kokkol River approaches a sharp ledge about 80 meters high with a steepness of 60-70 degrees. From here, a water stream over 10 meters wide rushes down from the wall of the Berel spur down with a deafening roar, heard far away.

It does not fall down along the ridge and rocks of the left and right sides, but flows down in narrow swift 'snakes'. When falling from high altitude fine water dust is formed, which ionizes the air in the valley. On sunny days, rising above the waterfall, it is painted with all the colors of the rainbow. A powerful waterfall, a picturesque gorge, overgrown with beautiful cedar and spruce forests, give extraordinary beauty and charm to this corner of Altai nature.

4. The majestically beautiful, impregnable two-headed queen of the Altai mountains, Belukha, is represented by two peaks in the form of irregular pyramids - Eastern (4506 m) and Western Belukha (4435 m).

5. Eastern Belukha (4506 m).

6. Western Belukha (4435 m). The depression between the peaks, called the ‘Belukha Saddle’ (4000 m) also abruptly breaks off to the north to the Akkem glacier (the so-called Akkem wall) and more gently descends to the south to the Katun River.

7. Beluga saddle (4000 m). 'House of the gods', 'Great old man' - this is how the Altaians call Belukha. And according to N.K. Roerich is a mountain about which even deserts whisper. Travelers, contemplating the grandeur of the sparkling two-headed peak, talk about its unearthly beauty, the amazing change of colors at sunset, the amazing closeness of the sky, the live twinkling of stars. The Belaya Berel and Katun rivers originate from the Belukha glaciers. The name comes from the abundant snow covering Belukha from top to bottom.

8. The Belukha region is located on the border of zones of 7-8 magnitude seismic activity. Micro-earthquakes are very frequent here. Their consequences are the breaking of the ice shell, the descent of avalanches and landslides. Faults, cracks and thrusts of rocks testify to the tectonic instability of the territory of Belukha.

9. The climate of the Belukha region is severe with long cold winters and short summers with rains and snowfalls. In winter, negative air temperatures are observed in January down to -48C and remain low even in March down to -5C. In summer, on the top of Belukha, frosts down to -20C are not rare.

On the slopes of the Belukha massif and in the valleys, 169 glaciers are known, with total area 150 square kilometers. By the number of glaciers and glaciation, Belukha takes first place on the Katunsky ridge. 6 large glaciers are concentrated here, among them the Sapozhnikov glacier - one of the largest in Altai - 10.5 km long, with an area of ​​13.2 km2, as well as the Big and Small Berel glaciers, 10 and 8 km long and with an area of ​​12.5 and 8.9 sq. km. respectively.

The speed of ice movement varies and on average varies from 30 to 50 m per year. The accumulation of snow on steep slopes leads to avalanches. Belukha is one of the intense avalanche regions of Altai.

10. The rivers Katun, Kucherla, Akkem, Idygem originate here. The Belaya Berel River drains the southeastern slope and belongs to the Bukhtarma River basin. Water streams born near the Belukha glaciers form a special Altai type of rivers. The melt waters of glaciers and snows take part in the feeding of the rivers; rainfall is of little importance. Rivers are fast-flowing, often forming waterfalls. The lakes in the area of ​​Mount Belukha lie in deep kars and trough valleys.

Here you can meet rare birds: the Himalayan hawker, the Siberian mountain finches.

11. Himalayan whorl.

12. Siberian mountain finches.

13. From the Lower Camp at the foot of Belukha, you can clearly see the peaks of Vera 2591 m., Nadezhda 2709 m., Lyubov 3039 m., in the bowl of which at an altitude of 2400 m there is Lake Equilibrium, formed by melting glaciers. The purest glacial water, everything is visible to the very bottom (3-4 m). It is interesting to take a photo of Belukha from there in the early morning when it is reflected in the mirror of the lake.

Beluga whale is reflected in the Lake of Equilibrium:

14. From the lake (into a telephoto lens) a grotto is clearly visible, from which the Belaya Berel River flows. It originates from glaciers (Big and Small Berel). then goes under the ice tongue and then flows out of the grotto. The ice is sprinkled with crumbling rubble, which is dangerous to walk on - failures, voids.

15. View of the Katunsky ridge (the Kazakh-Russian border passes through it), Belukha 4509 m, Delaunay peak 3869 m, Urusvati, 3543 m.

16. Mount Urusvati, 3543 m (Sanskrit "Light of the Morning Star").

17. Upper Camp. It is located about 10 km from the Lower Camp (at the foot of Belukha) with a height difference of more than 800 m (we go uphill). Approximately at an altitude of 2600 m there is already snow, an almost clear border between green and white is visible.

18. Upper Camp (Kokkol Mine). Its history goes back to the 30s of the last century. This is a unique mining monument, founded in 1938 on the Kokkol pass, at an altitude of about 3000 m above sea level. In the upper reaches of the Kokkol River, in the ridge part, he discovered fragments of quartz with phenocrysts of wolframite. In 1937, a search party was sent here, which easily discovered a series of parallel, close, thin, steeply dipping (75-85) quartz veins with industrial contents of wolframite and molybdenite.

19. Manual mining of ore began in 1938. At the mine itself on the pass (Upper Camp or Kokkol Mine), barracks, an office, an explosives warehouse, a forge, and a processing factory were built. The Lower Camp was built 9 km to the west near the Kokkol waterfall in the forest zone: a horse yard, an office. The galleries passed along the ore veins. Here the ore was sorted by hand. When the processing plant was built, they began to receive a higher concentrate of ore, which was delivered on horseback to the village of Berel. The mine worked until 1954.

Mine Valley:

20. The Upper Camp of the Kokkol mine is perfectly preserved. Due to the cold arid climate, all buildings and equipment: a locomobile, a diesel engine, an enrichment plant are in a satisfactory condition and represent a wonderful open-air museum. The splendidly preserved concentrating factory is unique, many details of which are made of durable types of wood. There are also ore carts (endovkas), the remains of a Ford car. Only two houses remain from the Lower Camp today.

21. Komsomol members, civilian employees or prisoners of the Gulag worked there, testimonies, sources and links on the Internet were divided almost equally. From myself I will add that I held in my hands old map The General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces, where the "Upper Gulag Camp" was designated. Later army maps (1964, 1985-87 and 2003) already say "Kokkol mine (non-residential)".

22. Kokkol Valley.

23. Aquilegia.

24. " warm lake» at the foot of Belukha. Formed by the waters of melting glaciers.

25. Morning in the valley of the Belaya Berel river.

Altai mountains report grade 4 is set out in this article.

Message about the Altai Mountains

Altai mountains geographic location

These majestic mountains represent a very complex system of all Siberian ranges. They are separated by river valleys, extensive intermountain and intramountain basins. They are mainly located on the territory of the Altai Republic and, to a lesser extent, in Eastern Altai. This mountain system is divided into Southwestern Altai, Eastern Altai, Southeastern Altai, Northwestern Altai, Central Altai, Northeastern Altai and Northern Altai.

Why is Altai called the Golden Mountains?

From the Turkic languages, the word "altyn" is translated as "golden". In the evening, if you look closely, you can see how the rays of the sun at sunset endow the peaks of the mountains with a magical, golden glow. But there is a less beautiful version. Near the mountain, in its rivers and lakes, gold was mined and washed out. This is where their second name came from.

The relief of the Altai mountains

In the mountains, the relief is varied - there are middle mountains, high mountains, low mountains, sections of intermountain basins and ancient plains. Low mountains from the mark of 500 m smoothly pass to the heights of 2000 m. mountain system It was formed in the place of the slope of the ancient plain and dissected by winds and water by glaciers. The ridges are fan-shaped from the north west to the south east. The peaks of Altai are flat, rarely rounded and gently sloping.

The main landforms are carlings and peaks, trough valleys, cirques, lake basins, ridges, moraine hills, screes, landslides, and solifluction formations.

Climate of the Altai Mountains

The mountain system is characterized by a temperate sharply continental type of climate with a pronounced contrast between warm short and long cold seasons. The relief influences the climate of the Altai Mountains. It forms a certain climatic zonality, consisting of a low-mountain climate zone, a mid-mountain climate zone, and a high-mountain climate zone. Also, the features of the relief affect moisture. Humid, sea air comes from the west, which is blocked by the mountains, so more precipitation falls on their western slopes. But on reverse side, an arid climate prevails on the eastern slopes, because moist air practically does not reach here.

Flora and fauna of the Altai Mountains

In the mountains, rather sparse and monotonous vegetation is represented by subalpine and alpine meadows, on which watersheds, a bathing suit, anemone, a kopeechnik, gentians, forget-me-nots, poppies, mytniki, and volodushki grow. In the mountain tundra belt, you can meet low-growing willows and birches, lichens and partridge grass. There is no vegetation on the high ridges of the mountains.

Among the animals here live the Korsak fox, manul cat, gazelle antelope, tolai hare, ruddy duck, saja, bustard, remez, griffon vulture, black vulture, saker falcon, pearl crystal, reindeer,

• Teletskoye Lake is located in the mountains, filled with 40 km 3 of fresh, clean water. It is so transparent here that at a depth of up to 15 m you can see the bottom.
• The Altai Mountains are the cleanest region of the Russian Federation. Not in their area railways and industrial enterprises.
• There are 1402 glaciers in the mountains, which cover an area of ​​910 km2. These are giant reservoirs of fresh water.
• The rivers that flow in the mountains change their color in an amazing way at different times of the year.

We hope that the report about the Altai Mountains helped you prepare for the lesson. And you can leave your message about the Altai Mountains through the comment form below.