Karkaraly Range (Kazakh: Қарқаралы таулары; Russian: Каркаралинские горы) is a range of mountains in Karkaraly District, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan.[1]

Karkaraly Range
Қарқаралы таулары
Landscape of the range
Highest point
PeakZhirensakal (Komsomol Peak)
Elevation1,403 m (4,603 ft)
Coordinates49°22′N 75°23′E / 49.367°N 75.383°E / 49.367; 75.383
Dimensions
Length35 km (22 mi) N / S
Width25 km (16 mi) E/ W
Geography
Karkaraly Range is located in Kazakhstan
Karkaraly Range
Karkaraly Range
Location in Kazakhstan
LocationKazakhstan
Range coordinates49°22′N 75°22′E / 49.367°N 75.367°E / 49.367; 75.367
Parent rangeKazakh Uplands
Geology
OrogenyAlpine orogeny
Type of rockGranite, quartzite, porphyritic rock
Karkaraly Range (left) and Kent Range (lower right) Sentinel-2 image

The name Karkaraly means "arrow-headed" in the Kazakh language[2] Karkaraly city lies at the feet of the eastern slopes of the mountains and Karagaily village, a little further east. A large sector of the range is part of the Karkaraly National Park, a 112,120 hectares (277,100 acres) protected area established in 1998.[3][4]

Geography edit

The Karkaraly Range is one of the subranges of the Kazakh Upland system (Saryarka). It rises to the northwest of the smaller, but higher, Kent Range, marking the southern limit the Karasor Basin. The larger Kyzyltas range rises to the southwest. The Karkaraly Range stretches from north to south for about 40 kilometers (25 mi). Its highest point is Zhirensakal (Komsomol Peak), a 1,403 meters (4,603 ft) high summit. The mountains are deeply dissected by valleys and ravines. There are numerous small lakes, such as Pasheno and Shaytankol within the range, as well as Bolshoye, Zhartas and Ashchykol at the feet of the mountains.[1][5][3]

The main rivers having their sources in the range are the Karkaraly, flowing into lake Karasor, as well as the Sarsu and Tundak. The Taldy flows northwards, its valley forming the eastern limit of the range.[5][6][3]

Flora edit

The range is covered by pine forests as well as highland steppe vegetation made up of coarse feathergrass and forb grassland areas.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Каркаралинские горы; Great Soviet Encyclopedia in 30 vols. — Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M. Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969–1978. (in Russian)
  2. ^ Aygul Yeginbayeva, Kuat Saparov & Aigul Rakisheva. Toponymy of Flat Lands of Kazakhstan, Marmara Coğrafya Dergisi, DOI 10.14781/mcd.82833
  3. ^ a b c Google Earth
  4. ^ Каркаралинский национальный природный парк
  5. ^ a b "M-43 Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  6. ^ Улы-Жыланшык; Great Soviet Encyclopedia in 30 vols. — Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M. Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969–1978. (in Russian)

External links edit