Tian Shan

Tian Shan or Tien Shan (both: tēĕn shän) [Chin.,=celestial mountains], mountain system of central Asia, extending c.1,500 mi (2,410 km) from the Pamir Mts., Tajikistan, NE through the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, NW China, to the China-Mongolia border; Pobeda Peak (24,406 ft/7,439 m), on the Kyrgyzstan-China line, is the highest point. The E Tian Shan are relatively low parallel ranges that divide the Dzungaria and Tarim basins; the W Tian Shan separate into numerous complex branches. Some of the Alatau ranges are extensions of the Tian Shan. Because of the dry climate, the Tian Shan's snow line is generally above 11,000 ft (3,350 m). The Syr Darya, Chu, and Ili are the largest of many rivers that rise in the system. Issyk-Kol, W Tian Shan, is one of the world's largest mountain lakes. Coal, iron, lead, and zinc are mined in the region; grains are the predominant crop in the valleys. China and Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are linked by several passes, notably the Terek Pass (alt. 12,730 ft/3,880 m) on the route connecting Kashi (Kashgar) and Samarkand.

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Tian Shan. Encyclopedia title: The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. © 2012 The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia © 2012, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. Used with the permission of Columbia University Press. All Rights Reserved. Publisher: The Columbia University Press. Place of publication: Not available. Publication year: 2013.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.