- published: 16 Jan 2014
- views: 32729
Coordinates: 49°N 89°E / 49°N 89°E / 49; 89
The Altai Mountains (Altay Mountains) are a mountain range in East-Central Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together, and where the rivers Irtysh and Ob have their sources. The Altai Mountains are known as the original locus of the speakers of Turkic as well as other members of the proposed Altaic language group. The northwest end of the range is at 52° N and between 84° and 90° E (where it merges with the Sayan Mountains to the east), and extends southeast from there to about 45° N and 99° E, where it gradually becomes lower and merges into the high plateau of the Gobi Desert.
In Turkic and Mongolic languages, the name, Altai, means the "Golden Mountain"; al meaning gold and tai, mountain. The proposed Altaic language family takes its name from this mountain range.
(For the area north of the Altai, see Geography of South-Central Siberia.)
In the north of the region is the Sailughem Mountains, also known as Kolyvan Altai[dubious – discuss], which stretch northeast from 49° N and 86° E towards the western extremity of the Sayan Mountains in 51° 60' N and 89° E. Their mean elevation is 1,500 to 1,750 m. The snow-line runs at 2,000 m on the northern side and at 2,400 m on the southern, and above it the rugged peaks tower up some 1,000 m more. Mountain passes across the range are few and difficult, the chief being the Ulan-daban at 2,827 m (2,879 m according to Kozlov), and the Chapchan-daban, at 3,217 m, in the south and north respectively. On the east and southeast this range is flanked by the great plateau of Mongolia, the transition being effected gradually by means of several minor plateaus, such as Ukok 2380 m with Pazyryk Valley, Chuya 1,830 m, Kendykty 2,500 m, Kak 2,520 m, Suok 2,590 m, and Juvlu-kul 2,410 m.
Kazakh life in the Altai mountains • ZDFneo • [English subtitles]
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Altai Nature Reserve
Trekking in the Altai mountains with Adventure peaks Team Leader Sean James
Алтай. К истокам белых вод. Altai Mountains. To the Sources of White Waters
Aktru Valley - Altai Mountains - Siberian skialp
Beautiful Russia. Altai Mountains (ethnic music) HD
Gazpacho - The Wizard of Altai Mountains (from Night of the Demon)
Gazpacho The Wizard Of Altai Mountains
Gazpacho - The Wizard of Altai Mountains
Altain Magtaal (In Praise of the Altai Mountains)
Western Mongolia (Zapadne Mongolsko) (2/3) | Eagle Festival, Altai Mountains & Kazakhs | 2013