Tian Shan

The Tian Shan, also known as the Tengri Tagh or Tengir-Too, is a large system of mountain ranges in Central Asia. These mountains stretch across many countries and have some very tall peaks.

The tallest point in the Tian Shan is Jengish Chokusu. It rises to a height of 7,439 metres (24,406 feet) and is in Kyrgyzstan.

The Tian Shan is important in the traditional beliefs of people in the area, especially in Tengrism. One famous peak is called Khan Tengri, meaning "Lord of the Spirits." This beautiful landscape has been recognised for its natural wonder. In 2013, the eastern part of the Tian Shan in China's Xinjiang Region became a World Heritage Site. Later, in 2016, the western part of these mountains in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan also received this special status. This shows how valuable and important this area is to the world.

Name

One of the earliest names for the Tian Shan mountains may come from the word Qilian, meaning "sky" or "heaven." The ancient writer Sima Qian wrote about Qilian in his book, the Records of the Grand Historian. This name likely refers to the Tian Shan and not to the Qilian Mountains, which are far away. In Mongolia, the Otgontenger mountain has a similar meaning.

Geography

The Tian Shan mountain range lies north and west of the Taklamakan Desert and directly north of the Tarim Basin. It spans across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Xinjiang in Northwest China. To the south, it connects with the Pamir Mountains, and to the north and east, it meets the Altai Mountains of Mongolia.

The Tian Shan stretches eastwards for about 2,900 kilometers from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It forms part of the Himalayan orogenic belt. The highest peak is Jengish Chokusu, also called Victory Peak, which stands at 7,439 metres. The Torugart Pass marks the border between Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang. The Syr Darya, Ili River, and Tarim River all begin in the Tian Shan.

Ranges

The Tian Shan mountain system has many named ranges. Some of these ranges are the Barkol Tagh, Bogda Shan, Borohoro Shan, Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range, and Talas Alatau, among others.

In China, the Tian Shan begins east of Ürümqi and includes ranges like the Qarlik Tagh and Borohoro Mountains. In Kyrgyzstan, the main range continues to Peak Pobeda and Khan Tengri, with parts splitting around Issyk Kul Lake. These ranges stretch across several countries, forming a vast and impressive mountain system.

Ice Age

The Tian Shan plateau sits between the Kokshaal-Tau mountains to the south and the Terskey Alatau mountains to the north. Long ago, during icy times, these areas and the plateau were covered with many ice streams and glaciers. Today, the only piece of this old ice left is the South Inylschek glacier, which is 61 kilometers long.

Big glaciers also formed in the high mountains of the Kungey Alatau, north of Lake Issyk Kul. Glaciers from there reached down to Lake Issyk Kul. During the last ice age, glaciers covered about 118,000 square kilometers, and the snowline was much lower than it is now.

Ecology

The Tian Shan mountains have special forests. Schrenk's spruce trees grow over 2,000 metres tall. The lower slopes have wild walnuts and apples. Warm winds from the Indian Ocean helped protect the area from ice. This allowed many plants and animals to grow.

Tulips first grew in the Tian Shan. They later traveled along the Silk Road and became a symbol of the Ottoman Empire. The mountains are also home to early versions of foods we eat today, like apricots, pears, and pomegranates. Bears, deer, and wild boar helped spread seeds. This increased the variety of life in the region.

Climate

The Tian Shan mountains have an alpine climate. The weather there is cold and snowy, especially higher up. This kind of climate is found in high mountain areas all over the world.

Religion

Tengrism

In Tengrism, Khan Tengri is a very important spirit and the main god of the religion. It is also the name of the second highest peak of the Tian Shan.