Tien Shan - the heavenly mountains of seven thousand meters in Kyrgyzstan. Tien Shan Mountains

Tien Shan- majestic mountains in the heart Central Asia. People come here to lose their minds at the beauty of the landscapes, leave a piece of their soul in the deep gorges and lose peace forever, falling in love with the dense pine forests and crystal lakes.

Tien Shan mountain system spreads from east to west across the territory, and. The northern part of the Tien Shan, marked by the Ketmen, Trans-Ili Alatau, Kungey-Ala-Too and Kyrgyz ridges, stretches from China through the territory of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Most areas are easy to reach either from Almaty(Kazakhstan) or Bishkek(Kyrgyzstan). Eastern, including the Borokhoro, Iren-Khabyrga, Bogdo-Ula, Karlyktag Halyktau, Sarmin-Ula, Kuruktag ridges - is almost entirely located in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) China. The Western Tien Shan ridges - Karatau, Talas Ala-Too, Chatkal, Pskem and Ugam begin in Kyrgyzstan and end in the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan. This is popular tourist destination available both from Kyrgyzstan, so from the capital of Uzbekistan - Tashkent. The southern and southwestern border of the Tien Shan - the Fergana Range - frames the Fergana Valley. Pearl of Kyrgyzstan - internal (Central) Tien Shan- surrounded from the north by the Kyrgyz ridge, from the south by Kakshaal-Too, from the west by the Fergana ridge, and from the east by the Akshiyrak massif. Located here Lake Issyk-Kul attracts guests from all over the world. It is easily accessible by car, bus, train and even plane.

The Tien Shan is one of the highest mountains on the planet - more than thirty peaks here exceed the six-kilometer mark. It is no coincidence that the name of these mountains is translated as “heavenly” or “divine” mountains.

An extensive chain of foothills, gentle slopes and picturesque valleys and lakes have made these mountains attractive both for living and for recreation. And thanks to trails of varying complexity and configuration, and developed infrastructure, these mountains have become a magnet for active tourism. There are routes for both light and heavy. environmental and ski tourism in winter, have an interesting holiday on the shores of lakes in summer, as well as architectural monuments for lovers ethnographic tourism.

Mountains

Climbers and athletes aim to - the highest point of the Tien Shan and the northernmost seven-thousander of the planet - and its rival - one of the most beautiful mountains on Earth. Besides them, there are still unconquered peaks in the Tien Shan, especially in its Chinese part.

Pobeda Peak(7439 m) on the border of Kyrgyzstan and China remained unmeasured and unstudied for a long time due to the fact that it was covered on all sides by mountain ranges. The height was accurately determined only in 1943. Because of the flattened and stretched peak, the mountain seems calm, but in reality strong winds blow under the clouds, fog falls from above, and avalanches often occur. There is an opinion that Pobeda Peak is one of the most difficult seven-thousanders. Climbing this mountain requires good physical shape, equipment, but most importantly - endurance and courage. At the same time, more than a dozen athletes managed to get here, which means that Victory still goes to the brave and persistent.

known since time immemorial. The upward-looking regular pyramid with a height of 6995 meters is clearly visible from all over the area. In ancient times, it was believed that a deity, Tengri, lived at the top. Hence the name. There is one more thing - Kan-Too or "bloody mountain". At sunset, Khan Tengri turns bright red; the snow cap continues to remain crimson even when the neighboring mountains have plunged into twilight. The Khan Tengri rock contains pink marble - which is why it seems that bloody sunset rivers, sparkling and shimmering, flow down the slope.

The proximity of the state borders of Kazakhstan and China has long made the geographical affiliation of Khan Tengri controversial. As a result, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and China agreed that vertex- common property of the three states.

Athletes have been successfully climbing this six-thousander since the mid-30s of the 20th century. The classic route runs along the western edge. The weather here is unstable, severe frosts can suddenly strike, and wind can blow in, so a trip to Khan Tengri can become a strong test of strength. This only irritates climbers. There is another reason for the popularity of Khan Tengri. Geographically, when viewed from the north, the location of Khan Tengri (6995 m) and its western bridge (5900 m) to Chapaev Peak (6371 m), although two hundred meters lower, is still very similar to giants Himalayas: Everest(8848 m), its South Col(7900 m) and neighboring Lhotse Peak(8516 m), also called K2. Therefore, they also go to Kyrgyzstan to practice the Himalayan “classics”.

Those who are not confident in their form can try their hand at trekking to base camp on South Inylchek glacier. From here you can enjoy stunning views of the high-mountainous Tien Shan. By the way, Southern Inylchek is the largest of the 7.3 thousand km2 of Tien Shan glaciers. Its neighbor - Northern Inylchek is a little smaller. At the junction of two ice arms there is a mysterious “disappearing” Merzbacher Lake. Every year - in winter and summer - within a week, the lake is completely deprived of water, dumping it into flowing rivers. Remain at the bottom ice blocks icebergs It is difficult to get around the lake during the full-flow period - it is surrounded by rocks. The age of the reservoir, as well as the mechanisms of its formation and discharge, are not fully understood. That is why both adventurers and scientists flock here. Glaciers of the Tien Shan are also studied in connection with global warming . Climate change led to their rapid melting, therefore shape of glaciers and their size is carefully measured.

The Tien Shan Mountains are a popular destination for lovers snowboard, freeride, practicing . The ski season here lasts from December to April, and the weather is mild and sunny. Ski resorts Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan have enough trails that differ in both complexity and configuration. There are popular destinations and new routes. Organize descent from mountains and glaciers and transfer to the top by helicopter. There is a high-mountain ski resort in Kazakhstan "Chimbulak". Resorts have made a name for themselves in Kyrgyzstan « » “Kashka-suu”, “Orlovka”, “Oruu-sai”. Known in Uzbekistan "Chimgan", "Beldersay", under construction ski resort "Amirsay". The infrastructure of such resorts is getting better every year, focusing on European experience. Advantageous difference between the Tien Shan and ski resorts Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy the fact that there are fewer tourists here. In Tien Shan everyone can get unique ski holiday.

Gorges

Tien Shan gives chances to everyone. In Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, peaks and picturesque passes await tourists, ready to surrender to those who are persistent and believe in themselves. Here you won’t need professional equipment, just comfortable clothes and shoes, and you won’t have to waste time on long acclimatization. And don’t let the attractiveness of these places among tourists scare you - the Tien Shan is so vast and so beautiful that there are still protected corners, little-known destinations and untrodden paths here.

IN mountains of Kazakhstan popular destination - Almaty region, where it is located sports complex "Medeo", Assy-Turgen Observatory. For picturesque views, people go to the Kazakh Tien Shan by boat. Kolsai (Kulsay) lakes. Three reservoirs are hidden among the green spurs in gorge Kolsai is 10 km north of the border with Kyrgyzstan.

Uzbekistan has modest peaks (3309 m) and Okhotnichiy Peak(3099 m) are compensated by the picturesqueness of the passes Takhta, Kumbel, the beauty of the plateau Pulatkhan And mountain routes for every taste, many of which do not require serious sports training. Moreover, at the May Alpiniad they teach the basics of mountaineering. And along the shores of the local resort - Charvak Reservoir (Charvak)- There are excellent hotels and comfortable guest houses.

Directions for , horseback riding and runs on mountain bike They are also waiting in Kyrgyzstan. Incredible panoramic views open from the passes, and higher in the mountains along the Ak-Suu and Tash-Tekir rivers the rapid rivers turn into alpine waterfalls Sharkyratma, cascades of Kuldurek waterfalls, Archaly-Tor and Takyr-Tor waterfalls, as well as many other famous and unnamed, but always beautiful. Mountain ranges covered with dense coniferous forests Terksey-Alatoo And Kungey-Alatoo change the idea of ​​mountains as a kingdom of stones. A dense carpet of tall trees and herbs reigns here, and in spring the slopes are completely painted with a bright palette. Beauties Tien Shan spruces- giants with dark green needles. Another local attraction is heirloom nuts- appeared here back in Cretaceous period, more than 50 million years ago. Scattered along the spurs of the Tien Shan and concentrated in a tract in Kyrgyzstan, these trees are amazing in size and still bear fruit.

The spurs of the Tien Shan are a network of interesting gorges. Red slopes of the gorge Jety-Oguz will awaken the artist in everyone. Fairytale Canyon, reminiscent of the American Grand Canyon to some, and Jordanian Petra to others, appears special for every visitor, the play of light and shadows creates here whimsical, every time different shapes and outlines. The most beautiful gorges Ak-su, Barskoon, And Chon-Koi-Su- this is the kingdom of herbs and turbulent mountain streams.

In the gorges Chon-Ak-Su (Grigorievskoe) And Semenovskoe in the summer they break yurt camps. Yurt- a fabric tent-house, the traditional dwelling of Asian nomads. Here you can enjoy pristine nature, take a break from the city noise, and get acquainted with the life and culture of the descendants of Tomiris, Atilla and Genghis Khan. The Kyrgyz people are sensitive to their history and cherish their customs and culinary traditions. IN yurt towns they introduce guests to traditional dresses, music, cuisine, and organize horseback riding around the area.

Gorges Chon-Koi-Su And Tamga and completely change the idea of ​​mountains. Chong-Koi-Su is the abode of ancient people who left behind numerous drawings - petroglyphs talking about their life and the animals that lived here. And Tamga received its name (from Turkic - “sign”) thanks to ancient Buddhist symbols, which were carved on stones long ago by the local religious community.

The gorges will be of interest not only to those who love, but also to those who like to tickle their nerves on mountain rivers. Ideal for alloy And rafting rapid Angren, Akbulak, Ili, Koksu, Kyzylsu, Maidantal, Naryn, Oygaing, Pskem, Tarim, Chu, Ugam, Chatkal and others. They pass through many rapids, only in patches they emerge onto the plains, and in the upper reaches and lowlands they go along narrow rocky canyons.

Valleys

As a direction for camping, tracking, paragliding high mountain valleys and pastures are suitable jailoo (jailoo). This is a protected world of lush herbs, mineral springs and crystal lakes.

One of the largest and most famous. Triangular crystal, clamped in the vice of the Kyrgyz ridge, Suusamyr-Too and Dzhumgal-Too, a magnet for lovers extreme And "black" holiday. In winter they go horse riding here skiing And snowboarding, including on wild roads, with transfer from a helicopter to mountain peaks, covered with dry and crumbly “Tien Shan” snow. Enjoying the summer trekking tours from tent camp or fly to paragliding, capturing the beauty of the valley from a bird's eye view.

Valley - majestic alpine meadows overlooking the picturesque Arabel high plateau. This lake region was formed thanks to glaciers. There are 50 reservoirs of different sizes located here. However, the most picturesque is the crystal lake Kashka-Suu, like a mirror reflecting the skyward mountain peaks.

Valley Manzhyly-Ata known not only for its picturesque landscapes. Pilgrims and lovers of relaxation at mineral springs come here. Here are located Stone Age petroglyphs, Scythian burial grounds, medieval ruins And Buddhist inscriptions. According to ancient legend, Mother Deer lived here, giving rise to the Kyrgyz Bugu tribe. And the Manzhyly-Ata valley was named in honor of the Muslim preacher, Sufi and miracle worker who spread Islam here. Numerous mineral springs, beating from the ground keys, according to evidence, help to heal from diseases.

Alpine lakes

There is also a place for quiet in the Tien Shan beach summer holiday.

It ranks seventh among the deepest lakes in the world. This crystalline surface, framed by mountain ranges, is the pride of the Tien Shan. The name translates as “hot lake”. Although the temperature in the district in winter drops below zero, and the reservoirs are covered with ice, the brackish, warm Issyk-Kul remains without ice cover all year round. The first mention of Issyk-Kul was left by Chinese travelers in the 2nd century BC. They called it “Zhe-Hai” - “warm sea”.

Issyk-Kul today - resort, active all year round. In the summer people come here to soak up the water - sunny days there is more here than Black Sea, and the infrastructure - beaches and piers, hotels, shops and restaurants - offer a choice for every taste and budget. In winter, lovers of extreme recreation go to the outskirts of Issyk-Kul - skiers, snowboarders, freeriders.

Not far from Issyk-Kul you can even experience something that is possible only in one place on the planet - on Dead Sea in Israel. Kyrgyzstan has its own dead lake- Kara-Kul, located 400 meters from Issyk-Kul. The salinity of the water is more than 70 percent or 132 grams per liter - enough to provide rejuvenating and healing effect, and also allow the vacationer to “lie” on the surface of the water without making any effort.

Lovers outdoor recreation, and also birdwatchers, interested ecotourism, will appreciate the numerous high-mountain reservoirs of Kyrgyzstan.

hidden among the green western spurs of the heavenly mountains, it begs to be painted on an artist’s canvas. Located at an altitude of 1878 meters above sea level in the protected area of ​​the same name, Sary-Chelek It is one of the deepest reservoirs of the Tien Shan - in some places to the bottom of 220 meters. However, the water is so clear that in the smooth mirror you can see what is at the very bottom. The lake got its name, translated from Kyrgyz as “yellow bowl,” thanks to the motley blanket of bright flowers and shrubs reflected in the water.

The green western spurs of the Tien Shan are replete with numerous brothers of the bright Sary-Chelek. Small pearl reservoirs are hidden in the northern part of the Chatkal ridge. Calm Lake Aflatun, lost among the green spurs, and like stones strung on a thread of a high mountain river, lake Kara-Tokoy- the lower one, famous for its underwater forest, and the upper one, squeezed in the grip of the gorge of the same name.

A different landscape opens from the protected shores of lakes Chatyr-Kul and (Songkyul). These reservoirs of the Central Tien Shan, located at an altitude of more than three kilometers, are sandwiched by gray stone peaks in tectonic depressions among flat high-mountain valleys and green pastures of jailu. Both are covered with ice in the winter. And in spring, summer and autumn, birds flock here from all over Eurasia. Ideal destinations for mountain tourism, lovers of pristine nature and its feathered inhabitants.

Historical monuments

Tien Shan would not be Tien Shan without the people who left their mark here. Evidence that these regions have been inhabited since time immemorial remains in the tract Saimaluu-Tash or Saimaly-Tash (“Patterned stones”). Here in the highlands gorge near Kazarman More than 107 thousand drawings carved on rocks dating back to the 2nd-3rd millennium BC were discovered. Similar artifacts dating back to the 3rd-1st millennium BC. e found on Chumysh rocks on the spurs of the Fergana ridge. “Younger” and smaller-scale rock galleries are also found in the Issyk-Kul, Naryn and Talas regions of Kyrgyzstan. Stone paintings tell about the life of the peoples who lived here and depict the beauty of nature.

Those interested in history will appreciate that in the Tien Shan, along with Muslim ones, artifacts of local and Turkic beliefs, Buddhism, and Nestorian Christianity have been preserved.

In the Middle Ages, the Tien Shan was a landmark on the caravan routes from Europe to China. The ruins of the fortified settlement remained silent witnesses of that era. Koshoi-Korgon and also mysterious caravanserai Tash-Rabat. Situated among picturesque mountains, they continue to attract attention with unanswered questions.

Legends of Tien Shan

Kyrgyz Olympus
The ancient Turks and Mongols revered the god Tengri as the organizer of the world, along with the goddess Umai and Erlik. They called him the deity of the upper zone of the world and believed that he wrote the destinies of people, measured out a term for everyone and determined who would be the ruler of people. Khan Tengri Peak was considered a kind of Olympus - the home of the supreme deity.

Tien Shan and Issyk
Beautiful legend talks about the origin of names Tien Shan And Issyk-kul. Allegedly, in ancient times, when there were no mountains here yet, the Tien Shan shepherd, strong as a hero, and his beautiful and modest wife Issyk lived in the green valleys. And their descendants would have praised their happiness for centuries, but only the evil sorcerer Khan Bagysh took a fancy to the faithful companion of the Tien Shan. The sorcerer's minions kidnapped blue-eyed Issyk in front of frightened children. In the evening, Tien Shan returned and did not find his wife in the yurt. He took his bow and arrows and headed towards the sorcerer's palace. Bagish sent countless troops against him, but the shepherd scattered them all in righteous anger. The sorcerer got scared, turned into a giant eagle and lifted Issyk into the blue heights in his claws. And he cast a spell on the hero so that he would turn into stone. The mighty Tien Shan felt his legs and arms grow numb and heavy and decided on a last desperate attempt - he put an arrow on his bow and fired. A well-aimed arrow pierced the eagle's wing. Bagish released the desired beauty from his claws. Out of anger, he cursed her too, wishing that Issyk would become water and go underground, not reaching anyone. Tien Shan rushed to catch his wife in time. The shepherd was petrified, turned into mighty mountains, and his wife became a crystal lake. The children turned out to be swift mountain rivers, remaining forever with their epic parents.

History of the discovery of the Tien Shan peaks

Inaccessible mountain steeps, always snowy, with almost sheer slopes, the highest peaks piercing their sharp peaks into the blue sky, harsh glaciers and snowstorms have protected the geographical mysteries of the Tien Shan for many centuries.

The honor of studying this mountainous country belongs to our domestic science.

The first explorer of the Tien Shan was the famous Russian geographer P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, who penetrated into the very heart of the Heavenly Mountains, to the Tengri-Tag massif. Following P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky explored this little-studied area of ​​the country by N.A. Severtsov, I.V. Mushketov, I.V. Ignatiev and other Russian scientists, who with their works made an invaluable contribution to the study of the Tien Shan. But, not having the means to organize large expeditions and not receiving support from the tsarist government; lone explorers could not penetrate the remote areas of this mountainous country.

The Great October Socialist Revolution radically changed the life of the peoples of the former Tsarist Russia. In the Soviet Union, the national economy, science, and culture reached their peak. From the first days of Soviet power, scientists of our country were provided with comprehensive state assistance; hundreds of large scientific institutions were created, large complex expeditions were organized to study many regions of our great Motherland.

Soviet people also came to the peaks of the Tien Shan. They weren't stopped either wild rivers, nor the high mountain ranges - they penetrated the kingdom eternal winter and tore away the mysterious covers from the mountain giants.

The discovery in 1943 of Pobeda Peak, the main peak of the Tien Shan with a height of 7439 m, was one of the largest geographical discoveries the last twenty years.

Pobeda Peak

Extensive mountainous country Tien Shan lies in the very heart of Asia. Its mountain ranges stretch from west to east for more than two and a half thousand kilometers.

The spurs of the westernmost ranges of the Tien Shan - Talas, Chatkal, Fergana and Kuramin descend to the capital of the Uzbek SSR, the city of Tashkent. The Fergana, Chatkal and Kuramin ridges enclose the Fergana Valley from the north. The eastern spurs of the Tien Shan ranges reach the western edge of the Gobi Desert.

A characteristic feature of the Tien Shan is the latitudinal elongation of both the entire mountain region as a whole and most of its mountain ranges and ridges. In the meridional direction from north to south, the boundaries of the region extend only 300-400 km, and all of it fits within 40-44 degrees. northern latitude.

From the south, Tien Shan is separated from the mountainous regions of Kunlun and Altyn Tag, adjacent to Tibet, by a wide sandy desert Taklamakan. The Western Tien Shan is connected with the Pamirs by the Pamir-Alai mountains; The border between them is the fertile Fergana Valley.

The high, ever-snowy ranges of the Soviet Tien Shan feed many large rivers Central Asia- Or, Chu, Naryn (upper reaches of the Syr Darya), Ak-sai, Uzengegush, Sarydzhas, Tekes. A common feature of all drainages of the Tien Shan is that not a single drop of their water reaches the ocean, feeding the internal basins of rivers and lakes in Central Asia.

The entire mountainous region of the Tien Shan is usually divided into four parts. The Western Tien Shan includes mountain ranges and ridges located to the west of Lake Issyk-Kul. The Central Tien Shan includes the highest ridges of the mountain region located to the south of Lake Issyk-Kul, as well as to the east of it all the ridges up to and including the Meridional. The Kungei and Zailiysky ridges, located north of Lake Issyk-Kul, rise in the Northern Tien Shan. To the northwest of the Trans-Ili Ala-Tau rise. Chu-Ili mountains. Western, Central and Northern Tien Shan are located in the territory Soviet Union.

The Eastern Tien Shan includes all mountain ranges located to the east of the Meridional Range and located mostly on the territory of the western provinces of the People's Republic of China.

The Western Tien Shan is a widely branched system of mountain ranges and ridges located mainly on the territory of the Kyrgyz and partially Kazakh and Uzbek union republics. These include the Kyrgyz, Talas, Chatkal, Fergana, Kurama and a number of smaller ridges and their spurs, located over a wide area from west to east from Tashkent to Lake Issyk-Kul and from north to south, from the Ili River valley to the Fergana Valley.

The ridges of the Western Tien Shan are relatively accessible and explored. In terms of mountaineering, the most studied is the Kyrgyz Ala-Tau, whose ever-snowy peaks have been climbed many times. Soviet climbers have also visited the peaks of the Chatkal ridge more than once;

North of Lake Issyk-Kul, on the territory of the Kazakh SSR, there are two mountain ranges of the Northern Tien Shan, Zailiysky Ala-Tau and Kungei. Ala-Tau, connected with the Chiliko-Kemin mountain cluster into one powerful mountain system. On its northern slopes, facing the Ili River valley, lies the capital of Kazakhstan - the city of Alma-Ata. The part of the Trans-Ili Ala-Tau adjacent to the capital is the most studied and developed by climbers.

Several mountaineering camps operate in this area, numerous peaks have been climbed, and the training of Central Asian mountaineers is mainly concentrated here.

The Central Tien Shan includes the highest mountain ranges and ridges. Here is the area of ​​the most powerful glaciation.

South of Lake Issyk-Kul, on the territory of the Kyrgyz SSR, there are two large mountain ranges of the Tien Shan - Terskey Ala-tau and Kok-shaal-tau

Terskey Ala Tau

Between them, on a vast highland, there are several smaller ridges Naryn-tau, At-bashi, Ak-shiyryak, Chakyr-korum, Borkoldoy and others.

Kokshaal-tau is the southernmost and, perhaps, least studied and developed by climbers ridge of the Tien Shan with peaks of about 6000 m (Kzyl-Asker 5899 m, Dankov Peak 5978 m, Alpinist Peak 5782 m, etc.).

Kok Shaal Tau

In terms of height, shape of the peaks and inaccessibility, this entire area is of very great scientific and sporting interest, so it attracts the attention of researchers and climbers.

To the east of Lake Issyk-Kul is the highest and most inaccessible part of the entire Tien Shan - the Khan Tengri massif. The largest (60 km) glacier of the Tien Shan - South Inylchek - is located here. There are many peaks in this area above 6000 m, the highest of which are Khan Tengri - 6995 and Pobeda Peak - 7439 m, the second highest mountain peak in the Soviet Union. The northernmost ones globe the peaks are seven thousand meters, covered with masses of ice and snow; they, naturally, give rise to the most severe conditions and special inaccessibility. Many centuries ago, people passed by these mountains, saw a cluster of eternal snow giants from afar, but could not get close to them. Therefore, human imagination populated them with mysterious spirits and gave them appropriate names. Thus, the entire mountainous region is called Tien Shan, which in Chinese means “Heavenly Mountains”, the Khan-Tengri massif has the local name Tengri-tag translated from Uyghur - “mountains of spirits”, and the top of the massif acquired the name Khan-tengri. Tengri - in Russian "Lord of Spirits".

Khan Tengri

The Khan Tengri massif, consisting of a number of ridges and peaks, occupies the eastern part of the Central Tien Shan and until recently attracted the attention of scientists and climbers, promising them a lot of unknowns. The peaks of its ridges are extremely numerous, and the ascents made in this massif can be counted on one hand.

The orographic structure of the Khan Tengri massif is very unique. In its eastern part there is the Meridional Ridge, which crosses this part of the Central Tien Shan from north to south. From this ridge, in the latitudinal direction, the highest ridges of the Tien Shan extend to the west - the Stalin ridge, Saryjas, Boz-kyr (Eastern Kok-shaal-tau); to the east - Severny and Halyk-tau.

The Terskey Alatau ridge extends from the Sary-Dzhas ridge to the northwest, and the Kuylyu-Tau ridge serves as a continuation of the Sary-Dzhas ridge in the west. From the Boz-kyr ridge the Inylchek-tau ridge branches off to the west and from it, in turn, the Kaindy-katta ridge branches off.

The highest peaks of the massif stand near the Meridional Ridge and on it itself. Pobeda Peak rises in the Boz-kyr ridge, and to the north of it, in the Stalin ridge, stands Khan Tengri Peak.

The South Inylchek glacier flows west from the Meridional Ridge and receives tributary glaciers from the slopes of the Stalin, Sary-jas, Boz-kyr and Inylchek-tau ridges.

There are many forests in the Tien Shan. High mountain valleys, plateaus and mountain slopes are covered with lush grasses. Rich herds of collective and state farms graze on mountain pastures. The abundance of wild animals - mountain goats (tau-teke) and sheep (argali) - creates favorable conditions for the broad development of hunting. Many minerals have been explored in the depths of the Tien Shan, promising broad prospects for the development of the mining industry.

The proximity of the snowy Tien Shan ranges to the capitals of the Kazakh and Kyrgyz Union Republics provides a wide field of activity for the development of mountaineering, one of the favorite sports of brave Soviet people - this unique school of courage. The governments of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan pay due attention to the development of mountain sports in the republics; mountaineering in the area of ​​the Trans-Ili Ala-Tau ridge, near the city of Alma-Ata, ranks second after the Caucasus, and climbers of Kyrgyzstan have become famous for holding alpiniads - mass mountaineering training trips.

In the area of ​​the Khan Tengri massif, on an area of ​​about 10,000 square meters. km concentrated the highest peaks and the largest glaciers of the Tien Shan. Deep valleys separate the ridges. Their powerful glaciations are often associated with common firn basins.

The inaccessibility of the Khan Tengri region delayed its exploration for a long time. People did not go deep into this kingdom of eternal winter and told tales and legends about the mysterious country of Tengri Tag.

Only in 1856-1857. the great Russian geographer P. Semenov managed to lift the veil of mystery that covered this part of the Tien Shan. He was the first explorer to see Tengri Tag and set foot on its glacier. The remarkable description of his journey to the Tien Shan that he compiled still serves as an example of the work of scientific thought and amazes with the clarity and breadth of observations and conclusions.

Unfortunately, P.P. Semenov did not go into the depths of the Khan Tengri massif, and this area, until very recently, kept many mysteries. P.P. Semenov visited the Tien Shan only twice, but during his further activities he sent many Russian scientists there who continued his work. In 1886, I.V. Ignatiev visited the Tien Shan with the special purpose of penetrating the Khan Tengri massif. In addition to the Semenov and Mushketov glaciers, flowing north from the Sarydzhas ridge, I.V. Ignatiev was in the Inylchek valley, but did not reach the huge glacier lying in this valley. Without having special equipment, he was unable to overcome the stone cover of his twenty-kilometer surface moraine. Other researchers of the Tien Shan were also frightened for a long time by its inaccessibility. The glory of the entire massif, especially the Khan Tengri peak, attracted several foreign scientists and climbers to it, but they also failed to unravel its secrets. Thus, in 1899, the Hungarian zoologist Almásy went to the Sary-Dzhas valley, but he failed to unravel the complex orography of the Khan Tengri massif. The following year, Swiss guides appeared with the Italian climber Borghese, but they were unable to climb the Inylchek glacier, which seemed impassable to them.

In 1902, a famous researcher of the Altai and Tien Shan mountains, professor of botany V.V. Sapozhnikov, was in this area. He did not limit himself to working in his specialty, but, in the tradition of famous Russian travelers; covered a very wide area of ​​research, made measurements of many peaks of the Khan Tengri massif, climbed glaciers and passes.

He determined the height of the Khan Tengri peak at 6950 m, reducing its actual height by only 45 m, and did this much more accurately than many previous and subsequent researchers.

V. at the same time, in 1902-1903. The Khan Tengri massif was visited by the German geographer and mountaineer Merzbacher. He managed to make several ascents to minor peaks and even walk the South Inylchek glacier to the foot of the Khan Tengri peak, the height of which he determined to be 7200 m. This scientist took overview photo panoramas and wrote up descriptions of the places he actually visited. But, unfortunately, he put some of his hypotheses and assumptions, which were later refuted by reality, on a par with facts. This caused great confusion in the orography of the Tien Shan, which Soviet scientists and climbers had to understand and put in final order.

To solve many of the mysteries of the Tien Shan, Soviet scientists and climbers penetrated deep into the Khantengri massif and overcame all its difficulties and dangers. Merzbacher justified his failures by saying that “the high peaks of the Tien Shan are an unsuitable place to satisfy the love of mountaineering.” Soviet climbers were able to prove that they do not single out the love of mountaineering as something self-sufficient, but always subordinate it to the main tasks set for the development of the Soviet physical education movement. Very often they use their mountaineering activities to serve research purposes. And if we talk about the love of sports, the satisfaction that athletes receive from mountaineering, or the fact that they are attracted to high and harsh mountains, then Soviet climbers have their own standard for this. They receive the more satisfaction the more difficult the ascent was, the higher and more inaccessible the peak was, the more interesting information was collected for scientists, the more obstacles were encountered and overcome, the more friendly and strong the team was, p. who share the joy of victory.

Much work on the study of the Tien Shan was carried out by Soviet scientists and climbers in a very short period. In 1929, the map of the Tien Shan was still full of blank spots, which had to be filled in by subsequent expeditions, specially prepared and equipped for work on glaciers and peaks.

Soviet climbers came to the Tien Shan together with scientists and entered its unexplored areas not only for sporting purposes. They solved scientific research problems, unraveled the complex orography of the region, studied glaciation, and compiled maps.

M. T. Pogrebetsky, now an Honored Master of Sports in mountaineering, headed the organization of the Ukrainian expedition to the Tien Shan, which worked in the Tengri Tag region for a number of years - from 1929 to 1933. At first it was a mountaineering sports group. It later grew into a comprehensive Ukrainian government expedition that did a lot of topographic survey work; geological exploration and geographical study of the Khan Tengri massif.

Pogrebetsky set the main sporting goal of his mountaineering group to climb Khan Tengri Peak. After two years of work on Inylchek, detailed reconnaissance of approaches and study of the route, on September 11, 1931, the Lord of Spirits was defeated. Soviet climbers climbed to its peak, dispelling the myth of the inaccessibility of Khan Tengri and conquering the first seven-thousandth peak. Soviet Union Pogrebetsky's group made this remarkable ascent along a route laid from the South Inylchek glacier.

In 1929-1930 on the other side of the Stalin Ridge, from the Northern Inylchek glacier, Khan Tengri was stormed by Moscow climbers V.F. Gusev, N.N. Mikhailov and I.I. Mysovsky. They were the first to lead horses to the South Inylchek glacier. However, in 1929 they were stopped by Lake Merzbacher, which separates the tongue of the North Inylchek glacier from the South Inylchek glacier, and they decided to change their route. In 1930, they found a pass in the Sary-Dzhas ridge (Soviet Press Pass) and passed through it to the Northern Inylchek glacier, explored it and explored the approaches to Khan Tengri. The following year, G.P. Sukhodolsky’s group went to the Northern Inylchek glacier through Lake Merzbacher, using a rubber inflatable boat, and along its rocky shores. The group climbed from the north onto the slopes of Khan Tengri to an altitude of about 6,000 m, but retreated, making sure that there was no way to the top from this side. Having completed the reconnaissance task, she went downstairs.

Inylchek

In 1932, the work of Pogrebetsky’s expedition to Tengri Tag continued. At the same time, a mountaineering group from the Moscow House of Scientists under the leadership of Professor A. A. Letavet appeared for the first time in the Tien Shan. This small group, consisting of only 4 people, visited the origins of one of the main water arteries Central Asia - the Syr Darya River, climbed Sary-tor (5100 m) - the main peak of the Ak-shiyryak ridge, then went south, to the sources of the Dzhangart River. Here Letavet and his companions saw large glaciers and groups of high and difficult peaks of the Kok-shaaltau ridge. From here, through another pass, through the Terskey Ala-tau ridge, they returned to Przhevalsk, then crossed the northern Tien Shan ridges of Kungei Ala-tau and Trans-Ili Ala-tau and ended their route in the city of Alma-Ata.

Thus, the group crossed the entire high-mountainous Tien Shan from south to north and, with this kind of reconnaissance, determined several of their routes for the future.

In the next two years, A. A. Letavet’s group visited the sources of the Uzengegush River, in the middle part of the Kokshaal-tau ridge. On the way to this southernmost and most remote ridge of the Tien Shan, the climbers climbed one of the peaks of the Borkoldoy ridge, near its junction with the Chakyr-korum ridge.

They entered this area by going to the sources of the Dzhagololamai River, and discovered there a kind of mountaineering reserve - a group of glaciers and peaks up to 4500m high (5200) "It was an incredible chaos of peaks and glaciers, especially at the junction of it (the Borkoldoy ridge.) with Chakyr -corum; the earth here seemed to bristle with an endless number of needles and thorns"

“Dry fog” - the dust of the Taklamakan desert - hung over the mountains and did not make it possible to examine the peaks of the Kok-shaal-tau ridge from afar, and A. A. Letavet’s group moved further to the Kubergenty pass. From this pass one could see the sources of the Uzengegush and Ak-Sai rivers, collecting their waters from the glaciers of the northern slopes of the Kokshaal-tau ridge, which rises here in peaks close to 6,000 m in height. Having examined this part of the ridge, the climbers mapped a number of glaciers and peaks, gave names to the nameless peaks Kyzyl-Asker (Krasnoarmeyets, 5,899 m), Dzholdash (Comrade, 5,782 m) and named the large glaciers of the sources of Uzengegush in honor of the Soviet geographers S.G. . Grigoriev and N. N. Palgov.

In 1934, Letavet's expedition again headed to the Kok-shaal-tau ridge, to the Kyzyl-Asker peak, and also somewhat east of it to the place where the Uzengegush River broke through the ridge. The expedition was replenished by young climbers I. E. Maron and L. P. Mashkov.

The group attempted to climb Kyzylasker Peak. In two days, the climbers crossed the glacier and climbed the slopes of this majestic peak to a considerable height. However, deep loose snow and the onset of bad weather delayed the ascent, and on the third day, the group descended into the valley, heading east, down the Uzengegush River, to the sources of its right tributary, the Chon-tura-su River. A glacier named after N. L. Korzhenevsky was examined here. In the middle of the glacier, the group discovered an isolated peak with a height of about 5,000 m and gave it the name Alpinist. Having climbed one observation peak at a height of 4,900 m, Professor Letavet finished his work. A two-day snowfall covered everything around with deep snow, so we had to leave this little-explored area, which still has many mysteries and awaits a well-equipped mountaineering expedition prepared for difficult sport ascents.

In 1936, A. A. Letavet laid out the route for his next expedition to the main peak of the Terskey Ala-tau ridge - Karakol Peak (5250 m) and to the Kuilyu-tau ridge. This year, the group of expedition participants was supplemented by V. S. Klimenkov and V. A. Kargin.

The Kuilyu-tau ridge remained little explored until 1936. Its snowy peaks were clearly visible from all the surrounding ridges and passes, but none of the researchers had ever gone into the depths of the Kuilyu-tau massif except Professor V.V. Sapozhnikov, who walked along its slopes and was in some of its gorges.

The Hungarian traveler Almásy, who also observed this ridge only from a distance, expressed an unlikely, but intriguing assumption for scientists and climbers, that the main peak of Kuylyu-tau is only slightly inferior in height to Khan Tengri. Exploration of this ridge was therefore the main goal of the expedition. Karakol Peak was of great sporting interest. It attracted climbers with its height, steep icy slopes, sharp ridge and trapezoid-shaped peak.

This peak is located deep in the gorge of the Karakolka River, only 40 km from the city of Przhevalsk. Having approached its foot, the climbers overcame the ice wall within two days and reached the long summit ridge, reaching almost 5000 m in the lowest eastern part of the peak height.

On the south side of the summit ridge one could see the Kuylyu-tau ridge and a glacier covered with a dense network of cracks with the Kuylyu River flowing from under its tongue. Pointed peaks of Kuilyu-tau, half-covered. clouds approaching from the west, looked unapproachable, and the climbers tried in vain to determine the gorge along which they could approach them. It was obvious that the Kuilyu glacier in the western part of the ridge could not serve as a path to the main peak, and the “keys to the door” should be looked for in the east.

For the purpose of further reconnaissance, Letavet's expedition passed Terskey Ala-Tau through the Chon-ashu pass to the Ottuk valley and, further, through the Tornu pass to the valley of the Kuilyu River. From the Tornu pass, the Kuylyu peaks are located relatively; far away, but they were hidden by continuous clouds.

From the beginning of the Sary-Dzhas gorge, the expedition turned into the gorge of the Malaya Taldy-su River and settled in a clearing, near the tongue of the glacier of the same name. On the second day, Letavet’s group walked the entire Maly Taldy-su glacier and in its upper reaches discovered an accessible pass leading to one of the glaciers of the Terekty river system. Near the glacier there was not a single prominent peak that could be mistaken for the lava peak of the ridge. The disappointed climbers, having returned to the camp, decided to change the further exploration plan in such a way as to exclude the descent into the Sary-Dzhas valley and the long climb into the neighboring gorge. This could be done by crossing the spur separating the gorges of the B. Taldy-su and M. Taldy-su rivers, and sending the horses as a guide to go around, towards. And so, the next day, the climbers achieved their goal. The brilliant completion of the reconnaissance replaced all doubts and disappointment. Letavet himself talks about this well: “We decided to try to find a passage directly to the upper reaches of the Bolshaya Taldy-su River, directly to the glaciers that feed it.

Sarah Jazz

Having climbed the right (eastern) branch of the Maly Taldy-su glacier and crossed the rocky ridge rising above the glacier circus, we actually found ourselves at the pass point of the ridge separating the Malaya and Bolshaya Taldy-su gorge. Below our feet lay the Bolshoi Taldy-su glacier, and right in front of us rose a powerful trapezoidal peak, sparkling with ice, rising about a one and a half kilometer sheer wall above the glacier. However, this peak could hardly be the one we were looking for. Its contours did not correspond to the descriptions of travelers who observed the peak from the upper reaches of the Sary-Dzhas.

We quickly descended along a steep rocky slope onto the Bolshaya Taldy-su glacier in order to immediately begin the ascent to the saddle visible in its upper reaches. The last section before the saddle is very steep. Containing our excitement, we quickly force it. An involuntary exclamation of amazement escapes us and right in front of us, in the rays of the evening sun, a slender, pointed peak, amazing in its beauty, sparkles. With a two-kilometer wall it rises above the glacier and is almost not connected with the surrounding mountain system; climbing it must present exceptional difficulties. The peak is very close - we are separated only by a narrow cirque of a glacier flowing to the south and apparently belonging to the Terekty River system. It is quite obvious that this, finally, is the very peak in search of which we went to the heart of the Kuilyu ridge. But it is also obvious that its height can hardly exceed 5,500 m above sea level. Evening is creeping up unnoticed. We place our tent on the snowy area of ​​the saddle. Despite the severe frost, we didn’t zip up the tent for a long time and still admired the peak in the light of the moon; it was even more beautiful. Indeed, this is one of the most beautiful peaks I have ever seen. We decide to give the peak the name Stalin's Constitution Peak. We name the massive ice peak that we saw from the pass in memory of the then deceased president of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Alexander Petrovich Karpinsky."

The group did not attempt to climb the newly discovered peaks due to the obvious complexity of the route, the need to select a much stronger climbing team and better equipment. The discovery in 1943 of Pobeda Peak, the main peak of the Tien Shan with a height of 7439 m, was one of the largest geographical discoveries of the last twenty years.

Source:

The Tien Shan mountain system stretches from west to east in Central Asia and passes through the territory of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China (in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region). Most mountain ranges and ridges extend in the latitudinal or sublatitudinal direction. Only in the central part of the system there is an exception - a powerful ridge, which is called the Meridional, it includes the highest peaks. The Pamir-Alai system connects the western ranges of the Tien Shan with the Pamirs. The northern border of the Western Tien Shan is considered to be the Ili, and the southern -. The limits of the Eastern Tien Shan are usually designated in the north by the Dzungarian basin, and in the south by the Tarim basin.

Determining the geological age of the Tien Shan, scientists attribute the formation of the rocks of this mountainous country to the end of the early and beginning of the middle Paleozoic (500-400 million years ago). This is evidenced by the nature of their fundamental folding: Caledonian in the north and predominantly Hercynian in other parts. Subsequently, this ancient mountain material, belonging to the Ural-Mongolian belt, turned into a plain - peneplain (very similar to the current Kazakh small hills), which again ascended to the clouds relatively recently - during the Alpine orogeny, which began 50 million years ago and continues to this day day. Local residents call the folded reliefs of the foothills very expressively - “adyrs”, that is, “counters”. These reliefs are covered in layers above by typical Alpine folding of a later time, formed by tectonic processes. In the depths of the Tien Shan, these processes continue, and today up to 30-40 seismic events are recorded per year. Fortunately, they are all of a relatively low level of danger, but the Tashkent earthquake of 1966 shows: this is not a guarantee that this will always be the case. Almost all large and many small lakes of the Tien Shan, both in the valleys and in the highlands, are of tectonic origin. The formation of mountains and gorges was, of course, influenced by erosion processes: outcrops and removal of sedimentary rocks, erosion and displacement of river channels, accumulation of moraine deposits, etc. Mudflows in the gorges of the Tien Shan are a common occurrence, especially on the northern slopes Trans-Ili Alatau, which is why the city of Almaty (Alma-Ata) suffered more than once.
In terms of orography describing mountainous reliefs, the Tien Shan is most often divided into Northern, Western, Central, Internal and Eastern. Sometimes clarifying adjustments are made to this terminology, for example, how the Southwestern Tien Shan, framing the Fergana Valley, is characterized as a special structure. Within the framework of the concepts of geomorphology, some individual ridges with unique structural features are also distinguished. Plus, there is also the Gobi Tien Shan on the territory of Mongolia - two relatively low (up to 2500 m) local ridges isolated from the Greater Tien Shan.
The highest peaks - Pobeda Peak (7439 m) and Khan Tengri (6995 m) - belong to the Central Tien Shan. The ridges of the Northern and Western Tien Shan gradually decrease from east to west from 4500-5000 m to 3500-4000 m. And the Karatau ridge rises only to 2176 m. Often the ridges have an asymmetrical outline. The Inner Tien Shan is dominated by the Terskey-Ala-Too, Borkoldoy, Atbashi ridges (up to 4500-5000 m) and the southern barrier - the Kokshaal-Too ridge (Dankova peak - 5982 m). In the Eastern Tien Shan, two stripes of ridges are clearly visible, Northern and Southern, again oriented along the West-East axis. They are separated by valleys and basins. The heights of the most massive ridges of the Eastern Tien Shan - Halyktau, Sarmin-Ula, Kuruktag - are 4000-5000 m. At the foot of the Eastern Tien Shan are the Turfan depression (depth up to -154 m), the Khamiya depression; The southern zone includes Lake Bagrash-Kol in the intermountain depression.
The Tien Shan rivers have the character of turbulent mountain streams, their average slope is 6 m per kilometer. The most productive river in terms of water energy is the Naryn, which at its confluence with the Kara Darya forms the Syrdarya. The Big Fergana and Northern Fergana irrigation canals originate from Naryn. On this river there is a cascade of hydroelectric power stations: Toktogulskaya, Tash-Kumyrskaya, Uchkurganskaya, Kurpsaiskaya, Shamaldysaiskaya, new cascade hydroelectric power stations are being built.
The first explorer of the Tien Shan was the Russian geographer and traveler P.P. Semenov (1827-1914), twice, in 1856-1857, the first European to climb the glacier of the Khan Tengri peak, awarded for his discoveries an honorary title addition to the surname - Tian-Shansky. Following him, expeditions to the Tien Shan were made by I.V. Ignatiev and his other students, as well as the Hungarian zoologist L. Almásy and the German geographer G. Mörzbacher.
Although the Tien Shan is the fifth highest mountain system in the world (after the Himalayas, Karakoram, Pamir and Hindu Kush), and its glacier-covered peaks look harsh, below the snow line the Tien Shan slopes represent a colorful and diverse natural world.
In the steppes of the foothills, ephemeral and ephemeral plants predominate. They are replaced by tall forbs, including many grasses. Even higher, with increasing humidity, meadows begin that serve as high-mountain summer pastures (jailau), islands of bushes (saxaul, coniferous, kopeechnik, dzhuzgun) and deciduous forests, dominated by wild fruit trees. Above 2000 m above sea level. m. coniferous tracts begin, dominated by Tien Shan spruce and fir. Behind them begins the zone of alpine and subalpine meadows, they rise to heights of 3400-3600 m, mainly on the northern slopes. Gradually they are replaced by syrts - dry rocky plains with a wavy surface and small lakes. The most common type of vegetation on syrts is the so-called cushion plants, sort of short-stemmed balls that are resistant to temperature changes and strong hairdryer winds blowing from the peaks. Here, already on takyr-like soils, vast areas of permafrost often catch the eye as harbingers of a meeting with glaciers. Well, behind them rise ridges of low slate rocks and stretch snow fields adjacent to flat (at this level) peaks dissected by gorges.
In the valleys of the Western Tien Shan, rich in rivers and well protected from the north by high and monolithic mountain walls, mixed forests of walnut with cherry plum, buckthorn and apple trees grow in the undergrowth. The drier valleys and basins of the Inner Tien Shan at altitudes of 1500-2500 m have signs of typical rocky deserts and mountain steppes of Central Asia.
The fauna of the Tien Shan is no less rich. In the most general terms, it can be described as typical of Central Asia, and in addition, animals native to Siberia are found here. Wild donkeys and goitered gazelles graze on the plains, and Altai mountain deer, wild Siberian goats and mountain sheep (argali) are often found higher up. Among other mammals, the typical inhabitants of the Tien Shan are the endemic Tien Shan (or white-clawed) brown bear, badger, leopard, lynx, wild boar, tolai hare, wolf, fox, marten, manul. Among the rodents - gopher, jerboa, gerbil, mole vole, wood mouse, Turkestan rat. In the mountain forests there are black grouse, wood grouse, partridges, snowcocks, and pheasants. Ducks, geese, swans, cranes, and herons live in the reed thickets along the river beds. And everywhere - lark, wheatear, bustard, sandgrouse, partridge, finch, eagles and vultures. Swans appear on the lake during spring migration. Reptiles are most often represented by the viper, copperhead, and patterned snake. Lizards are scurrying everywhere. Many lakes of the Tien Shan are rich in fish (osman, chebak, marinka and other species).
More exotic wildlife is represented in Dzungaria, a geographical and historical region in the north of China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. You can still meet there wild camel and three representatives of the class of one-hoofed animals, these are the dzhigetai, the kulan and the wild Przewalski's horse, species that are almost completely exterminated in other regions of Central Asia. The tiger lives in the riverine thickets of Dzungaria, the Gobi brown bear is found in the mountains, and the red wolf is common.
As confirmed by archaeological excavations of mounds, the population of the Tien Shan, both sedentary and nomadic, wore to a greater extent Caucasoid than Mongoloid features until the appearance of the Huns from the east and the Sarmatians from the west in the 6th-8th centuries, the Uyghurs in the 9th century, the Mongols, starting from the 12th century. The modern ethnographic map of the Tien Shan is mosaic, it is formed by dozens of ethnic groups. Hence large number customs, rituals, and legends preserved since ancient times. But in general, as travelers testify, in this world there reigns loyalty to its roots and wise calm, and it is extremely interesting to get acquainted with the local foundations of people’s lives.

General information

Nationality: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region).

Ethnic composition: Uighurs (Kashgarians), Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Mongols, Hui (Dungans), Chinese, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Oirats (Western Mongols), etc.
Religions: Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism.
Highest Peaks: Pobeda Peak (or Tomur in Uyghur) (7439 m), Khan Tengri (7010 m with glacier, 6995 m without glacier).

Largest ridges: Meridional, Terskey Ala-Too, Kokshaal-Too, Khalaktau, Boro-Khoro.
The largest rivers: Naryn, Karadarya (both belong to the upper reaches of the river basin), Talas, Chu, Ili.

Largest lake: Issyk-Kul (area - 6236 km 2).

Other large lakes(at an altitude of more than 3000 m above sea level): Son-Kol and Chatyr-Kol.

Largest glacier: Southern Inylchek (area - 59.5 km 2).
The most important passes: Turugart (3752 m), Muzart (3602 m), Tyuz-Ashuu (3586 m), Taldyk (3541 m), Boro-Khoro (3500 m).
Nearest airports(international): Manas in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Tashkent South (Uzbekistan), Almaty in Almaty (Kazakhstan), Divopu in Urumqi (China).

Numbers

Length from west to east: about 2500 km.

Average length(in this case - latitude) from north to south - 300-400 km.

Total area: about 875 thousand km 2.
Number of passes: more than 300.
Number of glaciers: 7787.

Total area of ​​glaciers: 10.2 thousand km 2.

Climate and weather

In general, it is sharply continental.

The Fergana ranges (Southwestern Tien Shan) are located on the border with a subtropical climate.

Average January temperatures: in the valleys of the lower mountain belt - +4°C, in mid-altitude valleys - up to -6°C, on glaciers - up to -30°C.

Average temperatures in July: in the valleys of the lower mountain belt from +20 to +25°С, in mid-altitude valleys - from +15 to +17°С, at the foot of glaciers from +5°С and below.

The temperature drop with every 100 m rise is approximately 0.7°C in summer; 0.6°C in autumn and spring; 0.5°C in winter.

Average annual precipitation: from 200 to 300 mm on the eastern slopes and valleys of the Inner and Central Tien Shan, up to 1600 mm in mid-mountain and high-mountain zones.

Economy

Minerals: ores of various non-ferrous metals, mercury, antimony, phosphorites (Karatau), hard and brown coal. In the Fergana Valley and the Dzhungar Basin there are oil and natural gas industrial value. The Tien Shan is also rich in geothermal springs.

Agriculture: growing wheat, grapes, fruits, vegetables, sheep breeding, goat breeding, horse breeding.

Service sector: tourism.

Attractions

■ Peaks: Pobeda Peak on the border of Kyrgyzstan and China, Khan Tengri on the border of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China.
■ Lake Issyk-Kul(Kyrgyzstan).
■ Alpine lake Tianchi(“Heavenly”), China.
■ Valley of the sacred springs Manzhyly-Ata(Kyrgyzstan) - a place of Muslim pilgrimage to the mazar of the Sufi and preacher, after whom the valley is named.
■ Rock “walls” in the Lyaylyak River basin(Kyrgyzstan): Ak-Su (5355 m), Blok (5299 m), Iskander (5120 m).
■ National parks: Ugam-Chatkal (Uzbekistan), Ala-Archa (Kyrgyzstan).
■ Reserves: Issyk-Kul and biosphere Sary-Chelek in Kyrgyzstan, Alma-Ata and Aksu-Zhabaglinsky in Kazakhstan, Sary-Chatkal mountain forest in Uzbekistan, as well as a number of reserves (including in the territory of walnut-fruit forests of the South-Western Tien- Shan), the Altyntag reserve and the “landscape area” “Mountain Screen” (China).

Curious facts

■ Pobeda Peak, named so in 1946 in honor of the victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War, is one of the seven-thousanders for which climbers are awarded the prestigious title “ snow leopard».
■ During sunset, part of the Khan Tengri peak becomes almost scarlet, like the shadows of clouds near it. This is where its second, “folk” name comes from - Kan-Too, or Kan-Tau, meaning “bloody (or bloody) mountain” (from the Turkic “kan” - “blood”, “too” - “mountain”), In this there is a certain sacred meaning: the sharp, blade-like and inaccessible peak of Khan Tengri is associated among the indigenous inhabitants of the Tien Shan with the concepts of “homeland” and “struggle”.
■ The northern slope of Khan Tengri Peak (6995 m), its western bridge (5900 m), connecting it with Chapaev Peak (6371 m), resemble the configuration of the Himalayan ligament Chomolungma (8848 m) - its South Col (7900 m) - and the peak Lhotse (8516 m). And although the Tien Shan “understudy” is 2 km lower, climbers planning to storm the highest peak of the world carry out the final stage of preparation for this expedition here.
■ In the wreath of legends about Lake Issyk-Kul there are stories that at its bottom there is a flooded Armenian monastery where the relics of the Apostle Matthew were kept. Several legends tell about Tamerlane's stay here. But most of the legends are associated with the shed hot (Turkish, “issyk”) tears of the young beauty Cholpon. She cried for so long that her tears formed a lake as beautiful as herself. In one of the legends, it is not she who cries, but the people for her. Two warriors who claimed her heart - Ulan and Santash - entered into a battle to the death. But their strength was equal, and all their relatives went wall to wall. Cholpon could not stop them, and then she tore her heart out of her chest. The opponents froze, and then all together they took Cholpon to a high mountain, laid her face to the sun and began to mourn her. Their tears, flowing in streams, flooded the valley between the mountains.

Tien Shan is one of the largest mountain systems in Asia. Its eastern part is located in China. The word Tien Shan translated from Chinese means “peak of the Celestial Empire”. The territory of Kazakhstan includes almost the entire Northern Tien Shan, parts of the Central and Western Tien Shan. The Central Tien Shan within Kazakhstan begins from the powerful mountain node of Khan Tengri and extends to the west of Terskey Alatau, where the border with Kyrgyzstan runs along its eastern branch, to the northwestern part of the source of the Tekes River. The territory of the mountain ranges of the Ketmen ridge, the northern slopes of the Kungey Alatau, the Trans-Ili Alatau, the Chu-Ili mountains and to the southwestern outskirts of the Talas and western parts of the Kyrgyz Alatau, the Ugam and Karatau ranges belongs to Kazakhstan.
The highest point of the Tien Shan in the Kazakhstani part is Khan Tengri Peak (6995 m). It is located in the south of one of the main ridges of the Central Tien Shan - Terskey Alatau. The main high mountain range of the Tien Shan, the Trans-Ili Alatau, is 350 km long, 30-40 km wide, average height- 4000 m.
Many rivers flow along the spurs of the Tien Shan Mountains and along the intermountain plains. The rivers Bolshaya and Malaya Almatinka, Talgar, Issyk, Chilik, Kaskelen originate from the northern slopes of the Trans-Ili Alatau, and the Charyn River originates from the eastern slopes. Many of them flow into the Ili River, the flow of which replenishes the water supply of Lake Balkhash. The mountainous part of the Chu and Ili river basins is not rich water resources, only the Kurty River flows into Ili. Many of these rivers are primarily fed by snowmelt in the spring, but in the summer all flow dries up and their beds dry up. The Chu River originates in the Kyrgyz and Trans-Ili Alatau and, after crossing the border of Kyrgyzstan, flows through the territory of Kazakhstan. The Arys, Boraldai, and Bogen rivers flow from the southwestern slopes of Karatau. From the northwestern slopes there are some rivers that are fed by melted snow waters in the spring and dry up in the summer. In many spurs of the Tien Shan there are lakes located in depressions between the peaks of the mountains, and originate from glaciers. Below, on intermountain vines, small lakes form. The high peaks of the Tien Shan Mountains are covered with glaciers. In total, in the Kazakh part of the Tien Shan there are 1009 glaciers with a total area of ​​857 km2.
In order to protect the nature of the Tien Shan, its flora and fauna, reserves and national parks were organized. Among them great place occupied by the Aksu-Zhabagly (1931) and Almaty (1935) reserves.
The Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, a repository of the pristine nature of the Western Tien Shan, is intended to protect 1,400 species of plants (including 268 rare ones), 238 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 9 species of reptiles. The reserve is inhabited by rare species animals and birds: gophers, bustards, little bustards. There are 112 species of trees growing in the Almaty Nature Reserve. The snow leopard, brown bear, and deer are taken under protection. Another 38 species of mammals and 200 species of birds live here.

Peak, Semenova glacier, Semenova ridge, Talgar.

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

TIEN SHAN

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

Concise geographical dictionary. EdwART. 2008.

Tien Shan

(Chinese - "heavenly mountains"), a mountainous country in Center. Asia. Zap. h. is located on the territory of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, eastern. h. – in China. It extends in a latitudinal direction for 2450 km between 40 and 45° N, 67 and 95° E. To the north through the ridge. Boro-Horo connects with Dzungarian Alatau , in the south is associated with Alai ridge mountain system Gissaro-Alaya. Zap. T.-Sh. from the north it is limited by the Ili depression, from the south it is limited Fergana Valley , East T.-Sh. - respectively Dzhungar Basin And Tarim Plain . Consists of mountain ranges elongated primarily. in the latitudinal and sublatitudinal directions; Only on the border with China does the Meridional Range extend. with the highest peaks of T.-S.: Pobeda Peak (7439 m) and Khan Tengri (6995 m). On the NW. T.-Sh. there are ridges Ketmen , Trans-Ili Alatau , Kungey-Ala-Too And Kyrgyz; to the west extremity stands out Talas Alatau with adjacent ridges Chatkalsky, Pskem, Ugam and Karatau , to the center. h., to the south from Issyk-Kul Basin ridges lie Fergana, Kokshaaltau , Terskey-Ala-Too and the Ak-Shyirak massif, as well as the shorter Borkoldoy, Dzhetim-Bel, At-Bashi etc.
In the East T.-Sh. Two strips of mountain ranges are clearly defined, separated by a latitudinal strip of valleys and basins. The height of the main ridges is 4000–5000 m, individual peaks rise to 6500 m or more. In the north the chain includes the following ridges: Boro-Khoro, Iren-Khabyrga, Bogdo-Shan, Barkoltag, Karlyktag. South the mountain range is shorter, it includes ridges located on the border with China Ketmen , Meridional, as well as Halyktau, Narat, Saarmin, Kuruktag. At the foot of the Vost. T.-Sh. located Turfan Basin .
Relief alpine, high-mountain with glacial forms, on the slopes there are huge screes, permafrost is common above 3200 m, at altitudes of 3000–4000 m leveled spaces - syrts - are often common. In mid-mountain and low-mountain areas there are mudflow cones. At the foot of many ridges there are strips of foothills (counters, or adyrs). Intermountain ( Fergana, Issyk-Kul, Naryn, etc.) and marginal (Chuy, Talas, Ili, etc.) depressions have flat or slightly hilly bottoms with wide river valleys, lakes and swamps. Earthquakes are frequent. Many minerals: mercury, antimony, lead, zinc, silver, tungsten, phosphorites, mineral. water; in the basins there are deposits of oil (in particular in the Fergana Valley), brown and stone. coal
The climate is sharply continental. Basic h. the mountains lie in temperate zone, southwestern ridges hours are influenced by dry subtropics. In the lower middle mountain belt July temperatures 20–25 °C, avg. belt 15–17 °C, at the foot of the glaciers 5 °C and below. Avg. January temperatures are –6 °C and lower; thaws are possible in mid-mountain areas. Precipitation in the foothills and intermountain depressions is from 300 mm, in the highlands up to 1000 mm per year or more. There are many snowfields, the mountains are dangerous for avalanches. Extensive glaciation: within the Central Asian countries there are approx. 7600 glaciers with a total area. 7310 km², approx. known in China. 8900 glaciers on the square 9190 km². There are numerous valley, cirque and hanging glaciers, and in Int. T.-Sh. – glaciers of flat peaks. The largest glaciers (South and North. Engilchek , Kaindy , Mushketov) dendritic type. Rivers T.-Sh. belong to internal bass Center. Asia: Naryn , Sary-Jazz , Syrdarya , Or , Chu , Tarim , Konchedarya . There are lakes in intermountain depressions Issyk-Kul , Bagrashkol , Songkyol , Chatyr-Kol , Bar-Kol. Clearly expressed altitudinal zone landscapes. On the foothill plains and low foothills there are semi-deserts or desert steppes with ephemeral vegetation. Above 900–1200 m are grass-forb steppes in the north and tall-grass semi-savannas in the south. Above 1200–2000 m are meadow steppes, thickets of shrubs and deciduous forests, above 2000 m are coniferous forests (spruce and fir). At altitudes of 2800–3400 m there are subalpine and alpine meadows, mainly. to the north slopes; on the syrts there are landscapes of cold deserts. Above 3600–3800 m there are landscapes of the nival-glacial belt, eternal snow and ice. In the foothills and low mountain areas of T.-Sh. goitered gazelle, ferret, tolai hare, gopher, jerboa, etc. live; 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, and occasionally snow leopard. Reserves: Issyk-Kul, Almaty, Aksu-Dzhabagly , Sary-Cheleksky, Chatkal, Besh-Aral, etc.

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

Tien Shan

mountainous 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° east. etc., stretching in a latitudinal direction for 2450 km, including within the Central Asian states for 1200 km. To the north through the ridge. Boro-Khoro connects with the Dzungarian Alatau, and in the south it is connected with the Alai Range. mountain system of Gissaro-Alai. The Western Tien Shan is limited in the north by the Ili and in the south by the Fergana basin, the Eastern Tien Shan by the Dzungarian and Kashgar basins, respectively. It consists of mountain ranges that extend predominantly in the latitudinal and sublatitudinal directions; Only on the border with China does the Meridional Range pass. with the highest peaks of the Tien Shan: Peak Tomur, or Victory (7439 m), and Khan Tengri (6995 m). The Chinese name for the Tien Shan is “Heavenly Mountains”.

In the Eastern Tien Shan, two stripes of mountain ranges are clearly defined, separated by a latitudinal strip of valleys and basins. Head height ridges 4000–5000 m, individual peaks rise to 6500 m or more. North the mountain range stretches from the south. spurs of the Dzungarian Alatau to the west. outskirts of the Gobi. It includes the following ridges: Boro-Khoro, Eren-Khabirga, Bogdo-Ula, Barkoltag, Karlyktag. South the mountain range is shorter, it includes the Ketmen and Meridional ridges located on the border with China, as well as Halyktau, Narat, Saarmin, Kuruktag. At the foot of the Vost. In the Tien Shan there is the Turfan depression with a bottom 155 m below sea level. m.
The relief is predominantly alpine, high-mountain, with glacial forms, on the slopes there are enormous screes, permafrost is common above 3200 m, at altitudes. At 3000–4000 m there are often leveled surfaces – syrts. In mid-mountain and low-mountain areas there are mudflow cones. At the foot of many ridges there are strips of foothills (counters, or adyrs). Intermountain (Fergana, Issyk-Kul, Naryn, etc.) and marginal (Chui, Talas, Ili, etc.) 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 there are deposits of oil (in particular, in the Fergana Valley), brown and hard coal.


Tien Shan. Terskey-Ala-Too Ridge

The climate is sharply continental. Basic part of the mountains lies in the temperate zone, the ranges are southwest. parts are influenced by dry subtropics. In the lower mountain belt cf. July temperature 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 lower; thaws are possible in mid-mountain areas. The amount of precipitation increases with altitude (from 300 mm in the foothills to 1000 mm per year in the highlands). There are many snowfields, the mountains are dangerous for avalanches. Extensive glaciation: within the Central Asian countries there are approx. 7600 glaciers with a total area. 7310 km², on ter. China is known to be approx. 8900 glaciers on the square 9190 km². There are numerous valley, cirque and hanging glaciers, and in the Inner Tien Shan there are glaciers of flat peaks. The largest glaciers (Southern and Northern Engilchek, Kaindy, Mushketova) are of the dendritic type.
The Tien Shan rivers belong to the inland bass. Center. Asia: Naryn, Sary-Jaz, Syrdarya, Ili, Chu, Tarim, Konchedarya. In the intermountain depressions there are lakes Issyk-Kul, Bagrashkol, Song-Kol, Chatyr-Kul, Barkol. The altitudinal zonation of the landscapes is clearly expressed. On the foothill plains and low foothills there are semi-deserts or desert steppes with ephemeral vegetation. Above 900–1200 m there are grass-forb steppes in the north and high-grass semi-savannas in the south. Above 1200–2000 m there are meadow steppes, thickets of shrubs and deciduous forests, above 2000 m they are replaced by coniferous forests of spruce and fir. At high 2800–3400 m – subalpine and alpine meadows, mainly in the north. slopes; on syrtakh– landscapes of cold deserts. Above 3600–3800 m there are landscapes of the nival-glacial belt, eternal snow and ice.
Within the foothill and low-mountain regions of the Tien Shan live gazelle, ferret, tolai hare, ground squirrel, jerboas, etc.; 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, and occasionally snow leopard. In the Tien Shan there are significant specially protected areas, in particular a number of reserves: Issyk-Kul, Alma-Ata, Aksu-Dzhabagly, Sary-Chelek, Chatkal, Besh-Aral, etc.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Edited by prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006 .

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