In the southeast of Western Siberia is the Altai Mountains with the Gornaya Shoria and Kuznetsk Alatau adjoining it from the north. Part of the Altai Mountains extends into the territory of Kazakhstan, and part is located on the territory of Mongolia and China. Altai is a complex system of ridges up to 4500 m high. high point of these mountains - the mountain - has two peaks: Eastern (4506 m) and Western (4460 m). The entire massif is composed of durable crystalline schists and gneisses. In ancient times, about 300 million years ago, during the Paleozoic era, the first uplift of the Altai mountainous country occurred. Over time, the mountains collapsed and turned almost into a plain. About 25 million years ago, in many places around the globe, the earth's crust began to move again. Many old destroyed mountains began to rise again. Altai has also become younger. During the movement, the earth's crust cracked, some of its sections rose, others sank. This is how the Altai mountain system with its high ridges and deep gorges was formed. The tectonic process continues today. The latest evidence of this was the strongest Chui earthquake in recent decades, with a magnitude of 7.3, which occurred on September 27, 2003. By luck, there were no casualties, but almost 2 thousand residential buildings were destroyed, and serious damage was sustained.
As soon as the mountains rose, snow began to accumulate on their tops. Such snow tops are called squirrels. Huge accumulations of snow in the high ridges of Altai gave rise to glaciers that feed numerous mountain rivers that carry their waters to the longest river in Russia - the Ob.

Altai is a mountainous country

From an airplane flying over Altai, endless mountains are visible below, reminiscent of a petrified sea. Low and dark from the forests growing on them in the north, to the south they become higher and higher.

The Altai region is cut through by a dense network of rivers and streams. All rivers in the region belong to the Ob basin. The largest of them are Biya, Katun, Argut, Chuya, Chumysh, Alei. Most mountain rivers are unsuitable for navigation due to rapid currents and rapids. Many of them have waterfalls. At the end of October, the rivers freeze and remain frozen until the end of April. There are few fish in them.
There are many lakes in the Altai Mountains, the largest - Teletskoye and Markakol (Kazakhstan) - are located in basins of tectonic origin. Mountain lakes are covered with a layer of ice up to 100 cm thick, which often persists until the end of June.
The Altai valleys are covered with coniferous forests (larch, cedar, pine, fir) with an admixture of deciduous trees. Berry bushes (raspberries, currants, honeysuckle, sea buckthorn) and medicinal plants (golden and maral root) grow in abundance. Rich and varied animal world: here you can find bear, lynx, fox, sable, musk deer, deer and many other animals. There are many species of birds in Altai: wood grouse, hazel grouse, black grouse, nutcracker, etc. The high mountain zone has its own special fauna: the Altai pika, mountain goat, snow leopard, yak and other animals are found here. In the intermountain basins there are high-mountain steppes: Kurai, Chui and others. Various crops are grown and livestock graze on their fertile lands.
The region is not deprived of natural resources either. For example, its hydropower potential is estimated at 80 billion kWh. Of the mineral resources, deposits of polymetallic ores, gold, mercury, antimony, tungsten, manganese, iron, marble, ornamental stones, and brown coal are especially important. And the picturesque views of the areas of lakes Teletskoye and Markakol and the valley of the Katun River, the beauty of the high-mountain landscapes attract thousands of tourists and climbers to these places. To preserve the nature of Altai, two reserves have been created: Altai and Markakol.

Numbers

Average height of the Altai Mountains: 2500 m.

The most high peak: Mount Belukha (Eastern peak, 4506 m).

Length of the mountain range: more than 2000 km.

Climate and weather

Climate Gorny Altai much cooler and wetter than on the neighboring plains of southern Western Siberia, in the highlands it becomes very cold and wet.

In summer, the air temperature in the mountains is from +10ºС to +18ºС, in winter -28ºС.

HELPFUL INFORMATION

■ 32 glaciers descend from Mount Belukha alone. They give rise to the Katun River, the source of the great Ob.
■ The first conquest of the Eastern peak of Mount Belukha almost ended in tragedy. In 1914, the Tronov brothers climbed the mountain, but due to carelessness, they fell off on a steep icy slope. Fortunately, both climbers got stuck in the loose snow and survived.
■ Altai glaciers were first studied by Professor V.V. Sapozhnikov, who from 1895 to 1911 made nine trips to the Russian and Mongolian Altai.
■ There are about 1,500 glaciers in the Altai highlands. The glaciation area exceeds 900 km 2 .
■ In the basins of the Altai Mountains, due to air stagnation, very low winter (up to -35ºС) and rather high summer (up to +25ºС) temperatures with little precipitation are observed.

■ In the mountain taiga zone, maral breeding state farms have been created. Deer horns and antlers are used to make medicines.

There are many corners of nature in the world that simply amaze the imagination with their beauty. One of such places is It is located in the southeastern part. In the east, the region is surrounded by the Salair Ridge - a mostly flat area dotted with numerous low hills. As you move to the southeast, the terrain gradually changes. The endless plains come close to the majestic ones. To say that they are beautiful is to say nothing.

The Altai Mountains are the pride of the world. Translated from the ancient Turkic “Altai” sounds like “ golden mountain"or "mountain of gold." Looking at these giants, I want to believe that this is really so. This is the largest mountain range in Siberia. It harmoniously combines snow-capped peaks and picturesque green slopes, silent hills and raging mountain rivers with crystal clear water. The altitude of the area ranges from 500 to 2000 meters above sea level. The depths of the fabulous Altai Territory rich in various minerals. Copper, zinc, gold, lead, silver - this is only a small part of what the local land contains. A lot of decorative building materials, as well as rare ornamental materials, are mined in the region. Rich deposits of jasper and quartzite are known throughout the world. And soda reserves are the largest in the world. This further emphasizes the importance of the region for our entire country.

The Altai mountains are cut by small rivers, which, smoothly descending to the plain, form lakes. One of them (Teletskoye) is even under the protection of the world organization UNESCO. Along it east coast there is a reserve where many live. Among them is the famous

There is a legend that the Altai Mountains were formed more than 400 million years ago. Then, under the influence of the forces of nature, they were completely destroyed, and only 350 million years later did what we see now appear. Ancient giants, shrouded in a blanket of snow, rise majestically above the green, hilly plain. The Altai Mountains attract the attention of many lovers of heights. Numerous climbers come here to test their strength by climbing steep rocky areas. Those who are lucky will be able to enjoy the wonderful landscape from a bird's eye view.

Despite the fact that in the Altai Territory there is a two-pointed Belukha, which rises 4.5 thousand meters above sea level, most climbers do not strive here at all. They are attracted by a completely different peak - Mount Sinyukha. The Altai region is famous precisely because of it. The height of this beauty is only 1210 meters. On the territory of the Kolyvan ridge located here, this is the highest point. But that’s not what makes her interesting. If you look at the mountain from a distance, it appears blue. This is due to the dense vegetation. Maybe that’s why they called her that - “Sinyukha”. In the immediate vicinity of this mountain there are two of the most famous lakes in Altai: Mokhovoe and Beloe. At the foot of the massif a birch grove begins. Tourists climb up the path. The road gradually becomes more difficult. The sunny birch forest gradually changes to harsh taiga fir thickets. A few hours of ascent - and the long-awaited peak, which is surrounded by granite rocks. One of them has an iron cross installed. In the very center of the peak there is a block of granite with a bowl-shaped depression filled with water. Since ancient times, people believed that if you climb to the top of Sinyukha, wash yourself with water from a bowl and pray at the iron cross, then for a whole year all problems will bypass you and your soul will be at peace. The mountain has long been a place of pilgrimage for Christians. And even now many believe in the ancient legend.

The capital of the Altai Territory is the city of Barnaul. Its history goes back just over 200 years. This is not so much, but the city is rapidly developing and gaining strength. During its existence, it suffered earthquakes and floods, wars and destruction. Residents sacredly honor the memory of the past, which is preserved in numerous museums. Modern Barnaul is a city of contrasts. Against the backdrop of wide avenues and multi-storey buildings, ancient buildings have been preserved, reminiscent of bygone years.

The road to Altai lies through Barnaul. Crowds of people strive to see with their own eyes the endless expanses of mountains and forests of indescribable beauty, swim in the purest lakes and breathe the fresh air of Altai meadows.

The truth of what to say and look at the mountains has long been known to everyone, today we will talk and look at the wonderful heights - the Altai Mountains. The Altai Mountains are located on the border of several states: Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. The Altai Mountains are the largest mountain system in Siberia. ( Looking at the Altai Mountains 11 photos)

First of all, the Altai Mountains are famous for their indescribable beauty and versatility of landscapes. Steep cliffs combine here in unique harmony with picturesque forests and crystal clear mountain rivers. The Altai Mountains truly combine a variety of landscapes, sunny, green meadows give way to sheer windy cliffs, or rugged forests give way to crystal clear waters of lakes.

We can talk about the unique beauty of these mountains for an infinitely long time, which is worth saying, because it was the Altai Mountains that served as a place of inspiration for many writers and poets, and the Altai Mountains also appear in many creative works. The Altai Mountains have unique history, scientists claim that the mountains first formed in the period 500-400 million years ago, then the mountain ranges almost completely collapsed, and already in the period 66 million years ago the mountains that we now see were born on Earth.

Thanks to several periods of formation, the Altai Mountains combine all possible reliefs. The Altai Mountains can be divided into four parts: flat terrain, alpine-type glacial high-mountain terrain and mid-mountain terrain. Basically, all areas of the Altai Mountains are cut by small rivers flowing into valleys, forming crystal clear mountain lakes. These reservoirs are fed exclusively by snow, so depending on the time of year, the water level in the reservoirs may fluctuate.

The average height of the mountains is 1800-2000 meters. The highest point of the Altai Mountains is Mount Belukha, whose peak is located at 4,506 meters. The pride of the Altai Mountains are three regions, which together form the “Golden Mountains of Altai” - this is the name under which UNESCO included it in the list in 1998 World Heritage three regions of the Altai Mountains, these are the Altai Reserve, the Katunsky Reserve and the Ukok Plateau.

The mountains are very popular among tourists who prefer an active lifestyle, and the Altai Mountains also occupy a special place in the hearts of climbers. For climbers, these picturesque landscapes guarantee that they will find a difficult climb here, after climbing which they will definitely be satisfied with the beauty that opens up. Having been in Altai, it is worth visiting the Altai Mountains, or at least the plains near the peaks, the atmosphere is unearthly.

The fragile and crumbly structure of the rocks characterizes the origin of numerous caves here; there are about 300 caves in Altai. There are equipped caves for tourists to visit. One of the largest caves is the Bolshaya Pryamukhinskaya Cave, the length of which reaches 320 meters. The longest Museum Cave, its length is 700 meters.

It is here in Altai mountains are the deepest mountains of Siberia. The Altai Mountains contain many interesting facts, both for archaeologists and biologists. Ancient settlements of Stone Age inhabitants were discovered in one of the caves of the Altai Mountains.

These were the most beautiful Altai Mountains - description and photos. Stay tuned and have a pleasant travel experience.

Altai Mountains grade 4 report is presented in this article.

Message about the Altai Mountains

Altai Mountains geographical location

These majestic mountains represent a very complex system of all Siberian ranges. They are separated by river valleys, vast intermountain and intramountain basins. They are mainly located on the territory of the Altai Republic and a smaller part 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 are 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 give the mountain tops a magical, golden glow. But there is a less beautiful version. Gold was mined and washed out near the mountain, in its rivers and lakes. This is where their second name comes from.

Relief of the Altai Mountains

In the mountains, the relief is varied - there are mid-mountain, high-mountain, low-mountain, areas of intermountain basins and ancient plains. Low mountains from an elevation of 500 m smoothly pass to heights of 2000 m. The mountain system was formed at the site of the slope of the ancient plain and glaciers dissected by winds and water. The ridges are fan-shaped from the north west to the south east. The peaks of Altai are flat, less often rounded and flat.

The main forms of relief 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 moderate, sharply continental climate with a pronounced contrast between the warm short and long cold seasons of the year. The climate of the Altai Mountains is influenced by the relief. It forms a certain climatic zonation, consisting of a low-mountain climate zone, a mid-mountain climate zone, and a high-mountain climate zone. Also, relief features affect hydration. Moist, sea air comes from the west, which is blocked by the mountains, so more precipitation falls on their western slopes. But on the other side, on the eastern slopes, an arid climate prevails, because humid air practically does not reach here.

Flora and fauna of the Altai Mountains

In the mountains, the rather sparse and monotonous vegetation is represented by subalpine and alpine meadows, on which columbine, swimwort, anemone, pennywort, gentians, forget-me-nots, poppies, mytniks, and waterworts grow. In the mountain tundra belt you can find low-growing willows and birches, lichens and partridge grass. There is no vegetation on the high mountain ridges.

Among the animals that live here are the corsac fox, manul cat, gazelle antelope, tolai hare, ruffed duck, sajah, bustard, remez, griffon vulture, black vulture, saker falcon, pearl snapper, reindeer,

• In the mountains there is Lake Teletskoye, 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 Russian Federation. In their area there is no 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 amazingly change their color 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 using the comment form below.

The Altai Mountains are a wonderful natural landmark. Mountain ranges are terrifying and awe-inspiring.

There are so many who want to conquer the snowy slopes and climb the peaks, from where they can view the spreading beauty of several countries at once.

Altai Mountains on the map

Geographical position

The Altai Mountains are located in Asia, or more precisely in Central Asia and Siberia. The mountain system covers several countries at once. It lies on the borders of Russia - in the Altai Territory and the Altai Republic, China - the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Kazakhstan - the East Kazakhstan Region, and Mongolia - the Bayan-Ulgiy and Khovd aimaks.

Flora and fauna

The vegetation of the Altai Mountains is diverse and to some extent unique. In a relatively small area mountain ranges You can find almost all types of flora in the European part of Russia, Kazakhstan and Central and Northern Asia. All this is due to elevation changes (the difference ranges from 350 meters to 4500 meters).

Various altitude zones are formed. Each of them has its own flora. Once in the Altai Mountains, you can visit a variety of natural conditions in just a day. Steppe vegetation is widely represented in Altai. Here you can see a variety of shrubs (honeysuckle, sea buckthorn, rose hips), cereals (fescue, feather grass) and other plants.

If you look at the southeastern region of the mountain system at an altitude of more than 1000 meters, it will amaze you with its semi-desert and scarcity. A completely different Altai appears in its famous forests, rich in flora. The world-famous black taiga is adjacent to the main forests and cedar trees, which occupy more than 30% of the territory of the Altai Mountains.

nature of the Altai mountains photo

At an altitude of 2000 meters the alpine zone begins. It includes swamps and tundras. The alpine meadows deserve special mention. A huge variety of grasses spreads on them, some reaching a height of more than one and a half meters.

The flora of Altai is a huge folk “pharmacy” with a large number of medicinal plants. More than 100 plant species are used in the pharmaceutical industry. The most popular and famous medicinal flower is Maryin root. The bright flowers of this peony burn with fire on the colorful green carpets of countless meadows.

The next altitude zone is dominated by mountain tundra. There is no variety of herbs and shrubs, vegetable world represented by numerous mosses and lichens. In some areas you can see low-growing willows and birches surrounded by green mosses. You can also find stone blocks covered with lichens, between which partridge grass grows.

snow leopard photo

The fauna of Altai amazes with its richness. Ecologists count about 90 species of mammals, more than 260 species of birds, 11 different representatives of amphibians and reptiles and two dozen fish. In the steppe, you can come across rodents at every step. Voles, pikas, marmots and jerboas hide here. Everywhere in the Altai steppes live foxes, wolves, and white hares. At an altitude of more than a thousand meters, the fauna is already more diverse, although some representatives of the steppes are still found here.

In addition to them, a wide variety of birds is represented here. Here are the bustard, the Indian goose, and the gray crane. Birds of prey also soar in the sky: black vultures, griffon vultures, saker falcons. The higher you go in the mountains, the more animals you can find among the trees and rocks. Elk, roe deer, and deer are real decorations of the Altai forests. Closer to the northern territories, lucky people can see rare reindeer.

mountain sheep photo

And in the wilderness of the taiga, dangerous, predatory animals roam: bears, wolverines, lynxes. In alpine meadows, the diversity of animals, in contrast to plant species, is much less. Although this is where rare animals listed in the Red Book live: snow leopards, argali, mountain goats.

The aquatic fauna is represented by various types of fish. Lakes and rivers of Altai – perfect place fishing for fishermen. Pike, ide, perch, sterlet and minnows swim here. However, the higher you go in the mountains, the more variety water world becomes poorer. The Altai Mountains are the only habitat of the Altai Ottoman.

Characteristics of the Altai Mountains

Who discovered the Altai Mountains

IN different countries The mountain has been given various names. Just like myself Mountain chain, and its naming is very ancient. It is impossible to determine who exactly discovered the mountains and gave them their real name.

beauty of the Altai mountains photo

Linguists believe that the word “Altai” comes from a combination of two Turkic words: Alty - “six” and ay - “moon”. For various nationalities, the Altai Mountains are “variegated” or “golden” mountains due to the fact that they are rich in bright colorful plants, and the snowy peaks sparkle in the sunlight.

• Thanks to the unusual climate in winter in the Altai mountains, peculiar oases without snow cover are formed in some valleys. The temperature in them is usually 10 0 -15 0 degrees higher than in neighboring areas.
• The first mountains formed here 500-600 million years ago. However, due to tectonic processes, their relief was destroyed, and 66 million years ago a mountain range was formed here, which still exists today.
• Natural places located on the territory of the Altai Mountains (Teletskoye Lake, Altai and Katunsky nature reserves, Mount Belukha) were included in the UNESCO heritage list in 1998.
• Experts estimate the reserves of medicinal plants in the mountains to be half a million tons.
• There are numerous mineral deposits in the mountains. However, there is practically no mining of raw materials in these areas.
• The mountain system is divided into: Altai, Southern Altai, Gobi Altai, Mongolian Altai and Steppe Altai.
• The length of the Museum Cave (the longest in the Altai Mountains) is 700 meters.