On what platform is the Tien Shan Mountains located? Tien Shan Mountains: photo, description, length, geographical location

On the borders of five countries Central Asia beautiful and majestic mountains- Tien Shan. On the Eurasian mainland they are second only to the Himalayas and Pamirs, and are also one of the largest and most extensive Asian mountain systems. The Heavenly Mountains are rich not only in minerals, but also in interesting geographical facts. The description of any object is built from many points and important nuances, but only complete coverage of all directions will help to create a complete geographical image. But let's not rush, but let's dwell in detail on each section.

Figures and facts: all the most important things about the Heavenly Mountains

The name Tien Shan has Turkic roots, because the peoples of this particular language group inhabited this territory since time immemorial and still live in this region. If translated literally, the toponym will sound like Heavenly Mountains or Divine Mountains. The explanation for this is very simple, the Turks from time immemorial worshiped the sky, and if you look at the mountains, you get the impression that with their peaks they reach the very clouds, most likely that is why the geographical object received such a name. And now, some more facts about the Tien Shan.

Where does the description of any object usually begin? Of course, from numbers. The length of the Tien Shan mountains is more than two and a half thousand kilometers. Believe me, this is a pretty impressive figure. To compare, the territory of Kazakhstan extends for 3,000 kilometers, and Russia extends for 4,000 kilometers from north to south. Imagine these objects and appreciate the scale of these mountains.
The height of the Tien Shan mountains reaches 7000 meters. The system has 30 peaks with a height of more than 6 kilometers, while Africa and Europe cannot boast of a single such mountain.
I would especially like to highlight the highest point of the Heavenly Mountains. Geographically, it is located on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Republic of China. There has been a very long debate around this issue, and neither side wants to give in. The highest peak of the Tien Shan mountains is the ridge with the triumphant name - Victory Peak. The height of the object is 7439 meters.

Location of one of the largest mountain systems in Central Asia

If we transfer the mountain system to political map, then the object will fall on the territory of five states. More than 70% of the mountains are located in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China. The rest comes from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. But the highest points and massive ridges are located in the northern part. If we consider the geographical position of the Tien Shan mountains from a regional perspective, then this will be the central part of the Asian continent.

Geographical zoning and relief

The territory of the mountains can be divided into five orographic regions. Each has its own unique topography and ridge structure. Pay attention to the photo of the Tien Shan mountains, which is located above. Agree, the grandeur and stateliness of these mountains evoke admiration. Now, let’s take a closer look at the zoning of the system:

Northern Tien Shan. This part is almost entirely located on the territory of Kazakhstan. The main ridges are Zailiysky and Kungey Alatau. These mountains are distinguished by their average height (no more than 4000 m) and highly rugged terrain. There are many small rivers in the region that originate from glacial peaks. The region also includes the Ketmen Ridge, which Kazakhstan shares with Kyrgyzstan. On the territory of the latter, there is another ridge of the northern part - the Kyrgyz Alatau.
Eastern Tien Shan. From the largest parts mountain system we can distinguish: Borokhoro, Bogdo-Ula, as well as medium and small ridges: Iren-Khabyrga and Sarmin-Ula. The entire eastern part of the Heavenly Mountains is located in China, mainly where the permanent settlement of the Uighurs is located; it is from this local dialect that the ranges received their names.
Western Tien Shan. This orographic unit occupies the territories of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The largest is the Karatau ridge, and then comes the Talas Alatau, which got its name from the river of the same name. These parts of the Tien Shan mountains are quite low, the relief drops to 2000 meters. This is because this is an older region, the territory of which has not undergone repeated mountain building. Thus the destructive force exogenous factors did its job.
Southwestern Tien Shan. This region is located in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In fact, this is the lowest part of the mountains, which consists of the Fregan ridge, framing the valley of the same name.
Central Tien Shan. This is the highest part of the mountain system. Its ranges occupy the territory of China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. It is in this part that almost all six-thousanders are located.

"Gloomy Giant" - the highest point of the Heavenly Mountains

As mentioned earlier, the highest point of the Tien Shan Mountains is called Victory Peak. It is easy to guess that the toponym got its name in honor of a significant event - the victory of the USSR in the most difficult and bloody war of the 20th century. Officially, the mountain is located in Kyrgyzstan, near the border with China, not far from the autonomy of the Uyghurs. However, for a long time The Chinese side did not want to recognize the ownership of the object by the Kyrgyz, and even after documenting the fact, it continues to look for ways to take possession of the desired peak.

This object is very popular among climbers; it is on the list of five seven-thousanders that must be conquered to receive the title “Snow Leopard”. Near the mountain, just 16 kilometers to the southwest, is the second highest peak of the Divine Mountains. It's about about Khan Tengri - the highest point of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Its height is only slightly less than seven kilometers and is 6995 meters.

Centuries-old history of rocks: geology and structure

In the place where the Tien Shan Mountains are located, there is an ancient belt of increased endogenous activity; these zones are also called geosynclines. Since the system has a fairly decent height, this suggests that it was subjected to secondary uplift, although it has quite a ancient origin. Research shows that the base of the Heavenly Mountains is composed of Precambrian and Lower Paleozoic rocks. The mountain strata were subjected to long-term deformations and the influence of endogenous forces, which is why the minerals are represented by metamorphosed gneisses, sandstones and typical limestone and slate.

Since much of this region was flooded during the Mesozoic, the mountain valleys are covered with lacustrine sediments (sandstone and clay). The activity of glaciers also did not pass without a trace; morainic deposits stretch from the very high peaks Tien Shan mountains and reach the very border of the snow line.

The repeated uplift of the mountains in the Neogene had a very significant impact on their geological structure; relatively “young” volcanic-type rocks are found in the parent basement. It is these inclusions that are the mineral and metallic minerals in which the Divine Mountains are very rich.

The lowest part of the Tien Shan, which is located in the south, has been exposed to exogenous agents for thousands of years: the sun, winds, glaciers, temperature changes, and water during flooding. All this could not but affect the structure of the rocks; nature greatly battered their slopes and “exposed” the mountains to the very parent rock. The complex geological history influenced the heterogeneity of the Tien Shan relief, which is why high snowy peaks alternate with valleys and dilapidated plateaus.

Gifts of the Heavenly Mountains: minerals

A description of the Tien Shan Mountains cannot do without mentioning mineral resources, because this system brings very good income to the states in whose territories it is located. First of all, these are complex conglomerates of polymetallic ores. Large deposits are found in all five countries. Most of the minerals in the depths of the mountains are lead and zinc, but you can find something rarer. For example, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have established antimony mining, and there are also separate deposits of molybdenum and tungsten. In the southern part of the mountains, near the Fregan Valley, coal is mined, as well as other fossil fuels: oil and gas. Rare elements found include strontium, mercury and uranium. But most of all the territory is rich building materials and semi-precious stones. The slopes and foothills of the mountains are strewn with small deposits of cement, sand and various types granite

However, many mineral resources are not accessible for development, because the infrastructure is very poorly developed in mountainous regions. Production in hard to reach places requires very modern technical means and large financial investments. States are in no hurry to develop the subsoil of the Tien Shan and often transfer the initiative to the private hands of foreign investors.

Ancient and modern glaciation of the mountain system

The height of the Tien Shan Mountains is several times higher than the snow line, which means it is no secret that the system is covered great amount glaciers However, the situation with glaciers is very unstable, because in the last 50 years alone, their number has decreased by almost 25% (3 thousand square kilometers). For comparison, this is even larger than the area of the city of Moscow. The depletion of snow and ice cover in the Tien Shan threatens the region with a serious environmental disaster. Firstly, this natural spring feeding rivers and alpine lakes. Secondly, this is the only source fresh water for all living things that inhabit the mountain slopes, including local peoples and settlements. If changes continue at the same pace, then by the end of the 21st century, the Tien Shan will lose more than half of its glaciers and will leave four countries without a valuable water resource.

Non-freezing lake and other water bodies

The most high mountain The Tien Shan is located near the highest mountain lake in Asia - Issyk-Kul. This object belongs to the state of Kyrgyzstan, and is popularly called the Unfreezing Lake. It's all about low pressure at high altitude and water temperature, thanks to which the surface of this lake never freezes. This place is the main tourist area of the region; on an area of more than 6 thousand square kilometers, there is a huge number of high-mountain resorts and various recreational areas.

Another picturesque water body of the Tien Shan is located in China, literally a hundred kilometers from the main trading city of Urumqi. We are talking about Lake Tienshi - this is a kind of “Pearl of the Heavenly Mountains”. The water there is so clean and transparent that it is difficult to realize the depth because it seems that you can literally reach the bottom with your hand.

In addition to lakes, the mountains are cut by a huge number of river valleys. Small rivers originate from the very tops and are fed by melted glacial waters. Many of them are lost on the mountain slopes, others unite into larger ones water bodies and carry their waters to the foot.

From picturesque meadows to icy peaks: climate and natural conditions

Where the Tien Shan Mountains are located, natural zones replace each other with height. Due to the fact that the orographic units of the system have heterogeneous relief, different parts Of the Heavenly Mountains, different natural zones can be located at the same level:

Alpine meadows. They can be located both at an altitude of more than 2500 meters and at 3300 meters. The peculiarity of this landscape is the lush, hilly valleys that surround bare rocks.
Forest zone. Quite rare in this region, mainly in inaccessible high mountain gorges.
Forest-steppe. The trees in this zone are low, mostly small-leaved or coniferous. To the south, the meadow and steppe landscape is more clearly visible.
Steppe. This natural area covers foothills and valleys. There is a huge variety of meadow grasses and steppe plants. The further south the region, the more clearly visible is the semi-desert and in some places even desert landscape.

The climate of the Heavenly Mountains is very harsh and unstable. It is influenced by opposing air masses. In summer, the Tien Shan Mountains are under the rule of the tropics, and in winter, polar currents dominate here. In general, the region can be called quite arid and sharply continental. In summer there are often dry winds and unbearable heat. In winter, temperatures can drop to record levels, and frosts often occur in the off-season. Precipitation is very unstable, with most of it occurring in April and May. It is the unstable climate that influences the reduction in the area of ice sheets. Also, sudden changes in temperature and constant winds have a very negative effect on the topography of the region. The mountains are slowly but surely being destroyed.

An untouched corner of nature: animals and plants

The Tien Shan Mountains have become home to a huge number of living beings. Animal world extremely diverse and varies significantly by region. For example, the Northern part of the mountains is represented by European and Siberian types, while the Western Tien Shan is inhabited by typical representatives of the Mediterranean, African and Himalayan regions. You can also safely meet typical representatives of mountain fauna: snow leopards, snowcocks and mountain goats. The forests are inhabited by common foxes, wolves and bears.

The flora is also very diverse; fir and Mediterranean trees can easily coexist in the region. Walnut. In addition, there is a huge number of medicinal plants and valuable herbs. This is a real phyto-pantry of Central Asia.

It is very important to protect the Tien Shan from human influence; for this purpose, two reserves and one national park. There are so few places left on the planet with untouched nature, so it is important to devote every effort to preserve this wealth for posterity.

“Heavenly Mountains” are well known to any Chinese. This is what the Tien Shan mountain system is called in China. China is not the only country with celestial mountain ranges. The rocky formation crosses countries such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. The ridge stretches across all of Central Asia.

Features of high mountains

The Tien Shan system has many peaks reaching heights of 6000 meters or more. The unique mountains also have an amazing ecosystem. Their appearance and views are indescribably beautiful, and the pits between them are replete with lakes. There are also fast rivers at the foot of the mountains.

The total length of the ridge is 2500 km. The entire mountain system is divided into the following areas:

Central;
Northern;
Oriental;
West;
Southwestern.

The highest point of the ridge is Pobeda Peak. Its total height is 7439 meters. At one time, Pyotr Semenov and Thomas Atkinson were involved in research on the system. Subsequently, these figures published books about the Tien Shan mountain system, describing their travels and observations in them. They made many discoveries that helped to better understand the ecosystem of the Tien Shan range.

Famous mountain lake

Lake Tianchi is a natural landmark of China. It is located in the Tien Shan mountain system, 100 km from Urumqi. The height of the lake above sea level is 1900 meters. This is the same jade pond, the waters of which in ancient times were endowed with magical properties.

Legends say that the Goddess Sivanmu herself once bathed in the waters of the lake. The reservoir is fed by mountain glaciers, so the water in it is very clean. The nature around is untouched by man and incredibly beautiful.

In summer, tourists relax near the shores of Tianchi, but the water in the lake is not suitable for swimming, as it still remains too cold even on the hottest days.

Tianchi is a lake, looking into which you can see its sandy bottom, as well as reflections of snow-white peaks.

Climate around the Chinese mountains

The arid and sharply continental climate of the Tien Shan is characterized by snowy winters and hot summers.

The higher the mountain peaks are, the more precipitation there is. Some mountainous areas are subject to strong winds. The lowlands of the mountain range receive little rainfall and are most suitable for tourism.

Wildlife of the Tien Shan

The mountain range is listed as a UNESCO heritage site. Its territory is inhabited by ferrets, hares, jerboas, gophers, mole voles, mice, rats and poisonous snakes.

Birds are represented in the form of larks, sandgrouses, eagles, bustards and partridges. Of the large animals, the ridge is favored by brown bears, lynxes, wild boars, wolves, foxes, badgers, martens, squirrels and roe deer.

Sometimes you can see a snow leopard in the highlands. This predator is listed in the Red Book, so they are a rare guest in all their habitats.

Tulips and irises grow on the slopes of the Tien Shan. Tansy trees, cedars, spruces, and aspens grow tall. These places are full of herbs and valuable medicinal plants. During the flowering period of various herbs, the mountain range turns into a colorful fairy tale.

Tien Shan and tourism

The main type of tourism on the territory of the ridge is hiking and mountaineering. Near the mountain range in Kufu there is a Confucian temple. At some bases there are ski slopes.

There are tourist areas and hotels around the mountains. There are restaurants, nearby cities have all the infrastructure a person needs.

In some places you can ride a cable car. The most popular hiking trails are equipped with parking lots for tourists. Sometimes at high altitudes there are campsites and hotels with private rooms. The Tien Shan is so vast and unpredictable that it does not tolerate a rash approach. It is best to go to the mountains with a trusted instructor, observing safety precautions, and notifying the relevant Chinese authorities about your route.

Tien Shan has stunning views, rare nature, fresh air and healing energy floating in the atmosphere. These mountains have always been considered one of the pearls of China, of which, by the way, there are quite a few in the country. They beckoned and beckoned tourists to their heights, opening up unprecedented places for the bravest of them, etched in their memory like the best memories.

In the summer, the team of the MAI Tourist Club and the State Tourist Complex “Citadel” (Brest) visited the mountains of the eastern part of the Central Tien Shan. Despite the fact that not all the original plans were realized, the campaign was a success. We got to know each other and became fully immersed in the area, passed several beautiful passes and climbed the three highest peaks of the Tien Shan. Below you can see a photo report about our trip.

I’ll tell you a little about what we wanted and what happened. The acclimatization stage went exactly according to plan. It included passing two observation passes of the Seven Muscovites (1B, 4130) and Chontash (2B, 4570) and the first ascent to the top of the Explorers of the Tien Shan (4490). Then, going out to the South Inylchek glacier, we climbed up it and through the Komsomolets glacier climbed out to the long-unvisited Schmidt Plateau pass (3B, 5270). From its saddle we traversed the untrodden peak 5650 and, ahead of schedule, descended through the Proletarsky Tourist glacier to the MAL on South Inylchek.

The next stage we planned to go through three high-altitude traverses. But due to problems with my back and the team’s primary desire to climb seven-thousand-meter peaks, they refused to continue the planned route. Later we switched to individual ascents in the upper reaches of the Southern Inylchek, sometimes dividing into subgroups for convenience. As a result, we climbed through the Torn Glacier to the Eastern Col of Khan Tengri (5800) and attempted to climb the mountain. Western Tent (6511), climbed Khan Tengri (7010) and Pobeda (7439), climbed the western peak of Military Topographers Peak (6815).

The journey from the base camp to the Semenovsky glacier takes 2.5 – 3 hours. The tents of the first camp are not located directly at the confluence with South Inylchek, but a little lower, sheltered from large avalanches from Khan Tengri and Chapaev Peak behind a rocky spur.

Feeling some euphoria from setting out on the route, we got carried away and talked until late in the evening. The blood pressure also made it difficult to fall asleep. As a result, we passed out at ten, and at midnight we got up for an early passage of the narrow and dangerous section between the peaks of Chapaev and Khan Tengri, popularly called the bottle.

The evening snowfall covered all traces. The ascent began almost in the dark. The flashlight only captured 50 meters of the glacier in front of our feet. We walked straight up, focusing on the silhouettes of large mountains. I was on Khan Tengri 8 years ago, but now everything has changed. Instead of deep snow there is firn dusted with snow. And we mostly descended along the opposite side.

Before the beginning dangerous place a bunch overtook us. One of the men in its composition was on Khan last year and in general outline imagined where the standard ascent path was.

The surrounding landscape brightened and the mountains woke up.

On the way to the neck of the bottle, an avalanche started from Chapaev Peak, went lower, but kept us in suspense and covered us with snow dust.

A little higher we saw a tent with a crazy man who decided to put it in such a place.

Tent - point in the center of the frame

Someone's coming down

Camp 5300 is located just above the icefall of the Semenovsky glacier. Considering yesterday’s gatherings, we couldn’t resist the desire to boil some tea there and take a nap for an hour.

Upper reaches of Southern Inylchek and Military Topographers Peak (6873)

The rest invigorated us a little and we climbed to the bergschrund under the Western Col of Khan Tengri relatively fresh. Here, at an altitude of 5800, the tents of the assault camp are located. The further route along the western edge of Khan Tengri is almost entirely covered with stationary railings. There are also small overnight sites at 6350 (for one tent), 6400 (for two tents), at 6600 (for 1 tent), in the area of the summit.

Compared to 2009, now most of the tents at 5800 are located in a wide, buried berg under the saddle, and caves are being dug out there. It's less windy and safer here. 8 years ago, a giant cornice flew off from the saddle to the north, almost from under our feet, breaking off right along the path with poles.

A simple ascent to Khan Tengri could not provide normal acclimatization. Therefore, we decided to climb to 6400 with bivouac equipment, set up a tent, go to the top, and then descend and spend the night. Maybe in terms of load, such a plan was not entirely ideal, since it would have been smarter to first spend the night at 6400, and then go down the mountain the next day. But we were afraid of the worsening weather that the forecast promised. We decided to make the most of it on our first trip.

We packed up the camp and at about 3 o’clock in the morning we went up from 5800. I was lucky to pass a group of foreign climbers at the start, and Misha stood behind them and subsequently went around them one by one. On the way to 6400 I overtook several people whom I didn’t see again on the way to the top or on the descent; they probably turned back.

In 3 hours I climbed to the site at 6400, where there was already one tent. The weather was unpleasant, visibility was limited, and the wind was gusty. Therefore, I did not dare to set up our tent alone and started leveling and completing the site. Together with Misha, who soon arrived, we set up and stretched out the tent, in which we left our things and equipment.

It must be said that climbing Khan Tengri along the classic route from the Western Col is not entirely sporty. An almost continuous thread of railings allows you to climb and descend from the top in almost any weather. Modern equipment reliably protects even from strong wind, and the lack of visibility takes away the pleasure, but does not interfere with the climb. So we, naturally, remembering the “cold - wind” from Vladimir Stetsenko, decided that there was no reason not to go upstairs.

If up to 6400 I felt quite fresh even with a backpack, then after continuing the climb lightly, I noticed that the pace had dropped. Misha, on the contrary, increased his strength and went a couple of pitches ahead. I was trying to find motivation to climb to the top, where I had already been before, along a marked route and in the absence of visibility. I persuaded myself to continue climbing for the sake of further acclimatization. In front of the “trough” I caught up with Misha, who was standing in line on the railing.

We clearly lacked acclimatization, since the previous climb to the top was the traverse of the Volynka peak (5650) with an overnight stay at 5300. I looked at the people ahead, walking noticeably slower and still resisting and continuing to move upward. And I understood that if they were patient, then I could be patient a little.

We reached the top together with the Almaty residents. The climb from 6400 took about 5 hours. Physically and psychologically it was difficult for him. A couple of weeks later we went to Pobeda more easily and with much more pleasure. I dragged the heavy DSLR upstairs in vain, taking only a couple of frames. We never saw Northern Inylchek behind the clouds.

Misha on top

We went down to the tent at 6400, where we had lunch and settled down to rest. The forecast was promised to be negative, but we did not deny ourselves a high overnight stay.

We woke up at one in the morning and hurried downstairs. Having passed the bottle before sunrise, we were at South Inylchek at 5 am.

On the left is Pogrebetsky Peak (6527)

Meanwhile, our main team climbed the Eastern saddle of Khan Tengri through the icefall of the Torn glacier. And having attempted to climb the Western Tent, in bad weather conditions, she was forced to turn around and descend to the camp on the saddle. And there was no time left to try again, since the deadline for our meeting at MAL was approaching.

Vazha Pshavela (6918) and Nehru (6742)

Khan Tengri (6995)

Having reunited with the team, we began to jointly make further plans. It became clear that we no longer had time to continue the originally planned route and finally go to Pobeda. As a result, we decided that going to individual peaks would be easier and more interesting. Moreover, at that moment there was still hope for a possible traverse of Victory.

The guys, who had not been to Khan, decided to go there. And Vanya, who was already a snow leopard, joined Misha and me, and we planned a walk to the upper reaches of the Zvezdochka glacier.

Here, in the Inylchek area, the main attention is focused on Khan Tengri. This year, more than a hundred people climbed from the south alone. Some more people are trying to climb Pobeda Peak. The rest of the interesting and easily accessible peaks, which have a not so attractive height, are deprived of attention. Climbers visited many six-thousanders of the Meridional Ridge 1-2 times. The area of the Komsomolets, Shokalsky, Putevodny and other glaciers is full of untrodden five-thousanders. The third highest peak of the Tien Shan, the Military Topographers Peak (6873 m), is climbed extremely rarely, by 1-2 groups every 5 years.

Since we had no descriptions, we decided with our subgroup to climb to the upper reaches of Zvyozdochka and there decide what to do next. We planned to choose between Military Topographers and Eastern Victory, depending on what we saw.

The path to the upper reaches of Zvezdochka leads along a marked path to the icefall at the turn of the glacier. Then it passes by the first Victory camp under the pedestal of the Abalakova route and further up under the walls of Eastern Victory.

From left to right is Abalakova's route

In the center of the frame is the western peak of the Military Topographers peak

There are many lakes in the central part of Zvezdochka. The glacier is not very broken. A small icefall opposite the spur of Shipilov Peak runs along the right side of the glacier. To avoid falling through, after lunch we put on snowshoes and continued walking in them.

Western peak of Military Topographers Peak (6815)

Avalanche from the Victory Balcony. To the right is Zhuravlev's route

The rock walls of Eastern Pobeda are impressive in their steepness and scale. The sun practically does not illuminate them. Of the four routes laid out here, not one is repeated.

The day before, about 4 kilometers did not reach the Chonteren pass, located between Eastern Victory and Military Topographers. In the morning Misha complained of feeling unwell. Probably I haven’t fully recovered after Khan Tengri, and yesterday’s 9-hour trek was not easy. We approached the pass takeoff, but did not climb any higher. Because they felt that the rest would be much more productive downstairs.

The next day, my condition and mood are excellent. We climbed Chonteren practically on foot, hanging 50 meters of railings at the top of the takeoff. There are no big difficulties on the Chinese side either. Therefore, the tourist category of the pass 3B is very conditional.

Shipilov Peak (6201)

The advantage of the route to the top of Eastern Pobeda (6762 m) is that from the saddle of the pass (5500 m) it is easy to walk and given the current snow conditions, it can be walked in a day. We, having some time left, decide to go to the Military Topographers peak located further.

Behind is the ridge to Eastern Victory

A narrow cornice ridge goes straight from the pass in the direction of the Military Topographers Peak. Walking along it in a small group is a pleasure.

Higher up, the ridge widens, turning into a snowy slope, which leads to a small plateau. On the edge of the plateau there is a group of picturesque ice seracs. Vanya dubbed them Julia’s, since he often saw similar relief forms in Anatoly’s reports. Large pieces of ice break off from the edge of the plateau and gradually slide into the abyss. While lunch was being prepared, we had time to walk and climb a little.

Victory Array

Walls of Military Topographers Peak

Between the seracs, Victory Peak

The camp was established at an altitude of 6050 under the slopes leading to the western ridge of the Military Topographers. While the guys were setting up the tent, I managed to climb up and photograph a little of the mountain. The entire traverse path of Valery Khrishchaty’s team from Pobeda to Khan opened before our eyes.

The tops of the legendary traverse in one panorama

Panorama from Pobeda to Khan

The plans to traverse the summit were postponed until future hikes, since Misha, motivating the decision by preserving his strength for the Victory, refused to accompany us on the ascent.

In the morning new adventures awaited us. Around 5 o'clock it shook a couple of times. As it turned out later, these were echoes of the seven-magnitude Chinese earthquake. Where there had been a small bergschrund the day before, a 3-meter ice wall appeared. Our entire plateau subsided, and deep ice craters formed on the slope. There were landslides here and there. As the guys from our second subgroup, who were descending from Khan at that moment, later said, avalanches simultaneously descended from Chapaev and Khan-Tengri, and a cloud of dust flew out to Inylchek. And just a few minutes before they managed to leave the Semenovsky glacier around the corner.

During the evening reconnaissance, the first rock gendarme of the western ridge of the Military Topographers seemed quite difficult. To pass it, you would have to hang a railing. Therefore, we decided to climb the ridge in a new way, emerging above the gendarme.

South view

There was a decent amount of snow on the slopes. Sometimes there were spots of crust, but mostly we had to follow the path and not forget about the avalanche danger. It was hard. Initially, we took with us an additional rope and some set of rock equipment, and left it all on the shelf. Because we realized that if we encounter serious technical difficulties, then in the current state we will not be able to reach the summit. And whatever is easier, we will climb in a bunch.

Upper reaches of Southern Inylchek

From the point of access to the ridge under the rocky rise to the second gendarme there is a long section with cornices. We were more confused not by them, but by the real chances of leaving with an avalanche on the steep cliffs of the Chinese side. At some point, they even tied the entire length of the rope so that they could alternately release each other and tuck it behind the protruding stones.

The weather was not conducive to the ascent, but did not force us to turn around. Hoods and windproof masks protected us from the gusty wind. Having passed the cornices, we came under a rocky gendarme. Bottom part climbed through. I climbed higher, straining a little in the fireplace, and threw the rope to Vanya.

Above the gendarme, the crest widens and becomes simple. But the wind and deep snow made it difficult to walk. We climbed the Western peak of Military Topographers (6815 m) in the absence of visibility. On the tour they found a note from Kirikov-Oleynik-Parshin dated 2005, who in turn removed Sergei Lavrov’s note from 1999.

According to the navigator, there were still 400 meters and 60 in altitude left to the Main Peak, but without visibility there was no thought to go there.

It cleared up on the descent

We went down to camp 6050, where Misha greeted us with amazing borscht at 18:30 in the evening.

In the morning, we got up early, went down to Zvezdochka and ran to the base camp, where we were already met by the guys who had successfully climbed Khan Tengri.

In the evening, an Iranian woman, whom the guys actually saved on Khan, came to talk to us. According to stories, during an overnight stay at 6400, at 8 pm she went down to the shelf next to their tents and remained sitting. The girl no longer had the strength to continue the descent. Initially, she refused the invitation to go into the tent, as well as the offer of tea. But in the end they put her in a sleeping bag, warmed her up, gave her something to drink, and sent her down in the morning in normal condition.

After resting for a couple of days, we began to prepare for Victory. The weather had ended by this time. After August 10, there were not heavy but frequent snowfalls, and winds began to blow overhead. We understood that there could be no permanent bad weather and a window would definitely appear, we just needed to figure out the exit to Vazha Pshavela by that moment. And from there it’s a day to the top. Part of the team also didn’t want to give up the idea of a traverse so easily, so they took an additional arc tent upstairs, all planning to live in a tent together.

There are seven of us left from the team. Zhenya flew to work after attempting to climb Western Shater, and Maxim after climbing Khan Tengri. And three guys from Novosibirsk and Moscow joined us. We decided to climb the mountain autonomously, but climb together, trying to help each other.

Dmitry Grekov gave us a radio station and further helped us by supporting and reporting the current weather forecast. This attitude was very pleasant, especially since we were not Ak-Sai’s clients.

While the weather was bad in the Tien Shan, the people, believing that the time had not come, acclimatized to the Khan, rested and socialized in the base camp. In the end, when everyone was ready to go upstairs, the weather was turned off. Before us, three people climbed through Vazha, who had unsealed the mountain this season, and four guys from the Novosibirsk team completed the traverse, ascending the Zhuravlev route and descending the classic route.

We went up on August 14, believing that we would paddle up to Vazha just in time for the possible window of the 18th-19th.

The first obstacle on the way to the top is the icefall of the Dikiy Pass. Unlike the further route, every year the first climbers on the mountain install new railings. The icefall itself is normal. Above a steep step of one and a half ropes, everything is done on foot. The approach under hanging faults and ice under the beginning of the railing is dangerous. Therefore, it is advisable to go through the icefall either early in the morning or in the late afternoon, when the peak of solar activity is behind.

Having left the base camp after lunch, we stopped for the night about a kilometer from the icefall. It’s scary to stop closer because of possible avalanches and landslides from the slopes of Pobeda.

Having passed the icefall in the morning, we walked through snow fields to a small trough on the Dikiy Pass. While lunch was being prepared, stragglers arrived. Since the weather was not promised for tomorrow, the goal that day was to climb to the caves at 5800, so that there could comfortably wait for it to improve.

View of the Western Col of Khan Tengri

Exit to the Wild

The slopes above Dikiy are gentle, but overloaded with snow and are prone to avalanches. Areas of deep snow alternate with firn boards. We put on beepers and snowshoes. Trying not to cut the slope, we went up, cutting a path.

In the center of the frame is the traverse of the Volynka peak we completed (5650)

According to the information we have, two caves for three and six people were dug on the slopes. Having reached the lower one at an altitude of 5700, which later turned out to be smaller, we expanded it to seven people. Three guys from the parallel group went to spend the night above.

By evening the weather deteriorated and it was very snowy. While we were expanding our cave, we met a group of people descending from above. The weather prevented them from reaching the summit. To the question: “Where are you from?”, Ilya, who led the group, answered: “From hell!”

At night they dug out the entrance to the cave a couple of times. The revenge continued throughout the next day. Our radio quickly went dead. Left without weather and without a forecast, we began to try to get information via satellite phone. In response to an SMS with a request, one of our friends wrote that heavy rains were expected on Pobeda, another sent a long text in English, copied from the site, saying that everything would be very bad, but not without specifics. We were interested specific numbers by cloudiness, precipitation and wind strength.

Seeing what was happening on the street and having no perspective, the idea of traverse the summit was finally abandoned, switching to radial ascent. We left the extra things and an additional tent in the cave and, towards lunch on August 17, when it was a little clearer, we went up.

There are several rock belts on the Vazhi ridge from 5800 to the peak of 6918. The first at altitudes 5800 - 6000, the second 6100 - 6250 and a couple more small plots above 6400. There are traditional places for a tent at 6100 under the protection of small stones, and at 6400. There are no places protected from the wind. In case of heavy snowfalls, rocks at 6100 and 6400 also do not fully protect from avalanches. In fact, a small arc tent can be placed almost anywhere, tearing down part of the slope. You will have to tinker with the area for the tent.

The rocky sections of the ridge are secured with railings. But they are not updated and are only sometimes duplicated in sections by enthusiasts with newer ropes. In some places the rope is broken or without braid. The rocks are simple, so it’s better to climb on your own, securing yourself with a jumar.

In the evening we went to the sites at 6400. Three guys walking in parallel found a ready place for their arc redfox. We began to expand the area nearby for our large tent. After some time, they came across a human body, as it later turned out, perhaps it was Alexander Popov, buried here in 2012 by an avalanche. Having buried it with snow, we went 50 meters to the side and dug a place on the slope.

We are building a site at 6400

The bodies of those killed in the Victory are a little tense. It is clear that there is simply no strength or opportunity to go down. But it’s one thing when a person is wrapped in an awning and a tent and conventionally buried off to the side of the path. Another thing, when at 7250, a dead man is simply sitting in the trough under the gendarme. Wrapping it in a tent is not that difficult, but you need to know about it in advance and have the tent with you. On a frozen ridge, you can’t just bury it in the snow and you won’t take off your powder coat.

Nehru peak behind

From the blogger's memoirs: Low emerald grass underfoot, endless blue sky above. Somewhere in the distance above the clouds, very close to space, sleeps a snow-white dragon - as ancient as our world.

The heavy silver plates of its ridge glowed brightly with ruby against the deep sea of the sky. The prickly, horse-bitten grass underfoot is covered with evening dew. We spend our last day in the Heavenly Mountains, remembering how we managed to climb almost into space.
The plane landed in Almaty. It turned out to be cheaper than flying to Bishkek. At night we have to get to Karakol. We drive along the Trans-Ili Alatau to Bishkek. The sun sets behind the desert land of Kazakhstan, illuminating the vastness of the ocher mountains with its last rays. The border with Kyrgyzstan at night - and we are already half asleep driving a Delika (this is an all-wheel drive minibus based on the Mitsubishi Pajero) along the Kyrgyz roads. It was one of the most difficult nights for me: the driver, a rude Russian man, apparently had not slept for several days. But the Delica is a car from Japan, with right-hand drive - and sitting in the traditional driver’s seat for me turned out to be like riding a roller coaster, the bolts of which are ready to pop out at any minute. The night was too long - both for me and for the driver. In the morning, before dawn, half asleep, I saw the soft, barely noticeable waves of the Issyk-Kul mirror. Like the crimson of dawn, a huge lake spilled over the valley. The driver feels really bad in the morning - he feels pounding, shaking from lack of sleep, and turns inside out. Cold water, nuts, wind in the face - almost nothing helps. Sometimes it cuts out right on the road, and the car is pulled to the side into a few oncoming cars. You have to push the steering wheel a couple of times to avoid a collision and wake up the poor guy. The peak of the Crystal Mountains looms ahead with a pink jagged edge. Dawn brings life and lightness, and lets go of the fear for their children a little. An orderly row of poplars, Karakol Bay - all this is now perceived as a gateway to a new world.
The car brought us to the Khanina camp site. This is the patron saint of all local tourists. A short, mustachioed, bald man, calm as a rock, opens the gates of his house for us early in the morning so that we can prepare for our first meeting with the Tien Shan. Based on the sad experience of last night, I decide that after transferring from Alma-Ata, it would also be better to turn to Khanin. You can rent equipment from Igor, buy gas, and go into the mountains as a watchman, and in the virtual absence of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations, he fulfills its role. But at the same time, of course, you need insurance, ready before the trip itself.
The watchman actively smears us across the seats on the mountain road. It’s probably hard to come up with a car more suitable than the ZIL for mountain roads and making tourists sick (more likely, turning us into an omelette).
The watchwoman brought us to the Karakol mountain camp. “Alpine camp” is a loud word, there are only a few large tarpaulin tents here, but there is everything a tourist needs: food, a bathhouse on wheels (for a couple of people), a clearing for tents. The only stone structure of the mountaineering camp is the toilet.
1. Around the Karakol alpine camp it is very convenient to walk radial routes for several days - which we took advantage of. Tourists visiting the Tien Shan have a long and very strange tradition of making loops around Lake Alakol and the Karakol alpine camp. Some people are attracted by aesthetics: views of the lake from passes and snowy peaks. And for some it’s just an opportunity to gobble up another watermelon in the climbing camp after finishing the ring and drag another one to the foot of the glacier, leaving part of the equipment in the climbing camp.
So we left the delivery, prudently made sure that there were watermelons, and hit the road. From the Karakol alpine camp a path rises up through thickets, clearings and dense forests. The trail leads up through waterfalls and gorges. Further, closer to the sky, clouds. The sun here becomes brighter, there is less air, but the pleasant azure overhead gives strength to move towards the goal - to Lake Alakol. Thus begins our wonderful hike through the emerald Heavenly Mountains. It seems that an abyss separates us from distant sharp peaks floating like graceful crystal above the clouds.

2. The first few days after the city feel so unusual in this world! Here Fresh air, wind in your face, hard climbs, and delicious lunches by babbling streams. You remember - and at first you don’t believe that such worlds exist. You think you dreamed. But when you close your eyes, you see and feel how the wind smoothes the grass on the peaks, and the mountains pick up the clouds, playing with them in flight.

3. The kilometer of elevation gain on the first day is not easy: we crawl like a train along a mountain path through fields of flowers, crossing streams, stopping in the shade of trees. Despite the severity of the route, you feel light and free.
4. Our reward for our efforts is a view of Lake Alakol in the evening at an altitude of 3.5 thousand meters. The lake feeds a large glacier from the Karakol wall, and it flows out into a narrow drain. It’s as if someone removed the plug from the banks - and the lake slowly merges, giving rise to a large waterfall. We decide to stand on the other side of the “drain”. It would seem that one jump and you are on the other side. But I’m very worried about my guys: below there is an abyss, the water is rushing down like a raging stream of a waterfall.

5. In the evening – our first stop on the lake shore. The Milky Way is clearly visible here, the night is cold and moonless. While I was filming, I almost sat in the lake, but it was getting cold! (however, this did not discourage the girls from wanting to swim).

6. In the morning - early rise, we climb to the Northern Alakol Pass to look at the lake from above, and descend into the Arashan valley. “Alakol” means “Motley Lake” in Kyrgyz. And like any self-respecting mountain lake, its color changes depending on the strength of the wind, light, and weather. Meteorologists say so, but we believe that the motley lake has its own character. For example, on this gloomy day the lake seems to glow from within, not letting us get bored.

7. And someone even left a heart here.

8. Lead clouds fly from Issyk-Kul in the afternoon. As it turns out later, it’s like this here every day. The morning is clear, the freshness of the mountains, pure colors greets us, and the clouds see us off into the night, sometimes pouring rain or greeting us with snow. I am always accompanied by a couple of good angels, so I managed to capture them - they are trying to conjure the sun. Yes, yes, but did you think that only the camera takes photographs? Angels are also very important.

9. After sitting a little above the clouds, approaching the Cosmos, we slowly descend down to the Arashan valley.

10. You can hardly find greener mountains than the Tien Shan. And at sunset, the fine grass softly reflects the rays falling on it - and it seems that millions of sunbeams playfully skip between the emerald blades of grass. The mountains live, breathe and wait for the traveler, and the sun sometimes sends him farewell rays on a cool evening. Along the way we meet yurts, the Kirghiz wave warmly to us and smile with silver teeth.

11. Somewhere in the Arashan Valley there are thermal hydrogen sulfide springs hidden, but we pass by - we go around the ridge and again approach the snowy wall of the mountains.

12. The Tien Shan cannot be confused with any mountains: such an abundance of livestock, green lawns, and highest peaks cannot be found anywhere else. The pine trees in the valleys pierce the sky with tall, straight arrows, and the horses follow us with their gaze. It feels like the mountains are breathing, living – these are the brightest, greenest mountains I’ve ever been to. Even on a cloudy day at the foot of the glaciers, emerald fields of short grass spread out before the viewer.

13. And our path goes up again. We made the route in rings so that we could always go down to the mountain camp. And it’s always difficult to understand the scale when planning on a map: almost every day we had to either go up or down a whole kilometer! It’s the same today: a long, drawn-out climb to the pass among the cold mountains, under the drizzling rain.

14. High in the mountains there is a completely different world. Rocks dominate here, harsh, cold stones surround small clearings of grass. But even here streams gurgle, gophers peek busily out of their holes, and whistle warily. The whistle reflects a booming echo from the mountain range.

15. It feels like you are preparing to storm a big castle.

16. The morning greets with fog, we climbed under the very clouds. Taking the Taktyktor Pass in such weather is not an easy task. Therefore, we prepare as best we can.

17. For example, apply cream (a very important task when you have nothing to do!).

18. We storm stone walls and sharp rocks.

19. The glacial lakes under the Taktyktor pass (in common parlance - Traktor) offer a traditionally wonderful view. It feels like meteorites hit the earth and left these craters. Somewhere on the right the traces of tourists are lost, we descend along them.

20. We fall waist-deep into wet snow, it’s hard to walk. The glacier is closed, with a lot of snow - so we go in groups. We pass the remains of the first “meteorite”.

21. Wet, frozen, but happy, we get out to the open part of the glacier, where the ice under our feet is already solid. It feels like you are standing in a crystal bowl, the mountains support the sky. Here you are so close to the sky, to the clouds, that it seems you can reach them with your hand. Sasha is attempting to reach the nearest peak :-)

22. Impressive snow cornices rise on the peaks, and somewhere below, in the valley, the emerald grass is still green and the rivers are roaring.

23. Climbers and girls conquered the Traktor pass.

24. To understand the scale of the “glacial puddle”, you can look for a person in the frame. A giant dish with soft edges attracts, between such lakes - a complex system ice bridges.

25. The glacier twists in tongues, cutting into the mountains with soft lines. We go down it, but the piercing wind does not let us in, greeting us with new sharp gusts.

26. But at the parking lot the sun and soft grass, flowering fields and lakes lost in pockets of moraines await us. Streams from the glacier gather into a large rapid stream, which spreads like an oasis at the foot of the valley, feeding the soil.

27. From the book about Semenov Tien-Shansky:
“From the moment Semenov saw the Heavenly Mountains, they bewitched him. He continuously looked at the snowy and colorful peaks, discovering more and more new beauty in them. Their giant horseshoe hung over the wild gardens, over the Ili Valley. Semenov saw how weightless clouds were born in dark holes. With incomprehensible speed they thicken into thunderclouds, and stifling direct showers fall on the valleys. He saw green and dark spots in the gardens; they floated over each other, connected with each other and changed colors, like waves in the solar wind. And on the left was the Kyrgyz steppe, already completely reminiscent of a foggy sea. It shimmered like the sea, with smoky air, shifting swells of sand, and wide shadows of clouds sliding in all directions.”

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32. In the evening, giant clouds rise from Issyk-Kul again. They overcome the ridges in a measured and orderly manner, waddling. It’s as if they reluctantly climb to the top. And the evening sun begins to break through them.

33. It turns out that we chose the most beautiful point for spending the night - from here you can see both the lake and the setting sun. This is a place for meditation and contemplation of wonderful natural phenomena.

34. And nature did not skimp on them: a wonderful rainbow over the Heavenly Mountains appeared for a moment in the rays of the setting sun.

35. When such wonderful things happen in the mountains, you want to jump for joy and happiness. Everything happens in a matter of seconds - but there are so many emotions: wind, rain, and snow over the mountain peaks. The light moves, emphasizing the contours of the mountains. The landscape comes to life and becomes spiritual at such moments.

36. In the evening, all the flowers drooped, the cold fell from the sky, and filled all the shadows of the stones with heavy tones.

37. And in the morning - again the warm sun, the quiet air of the valley. And only the whistle of marmots pierces the clean, clear atmosphere with an arrow.

38. One of the moraine lakes (which looked like a heart in the photographs above) reflects the deep wrinkles of the ancient mountains.

39. Our “motley lake” is very calm today. The azure sky is still lazily sleeping in the reflection, preserving the calm of the morning in cozy bays.

40. Today we have to return to the “drain” of the lake again, walk along its right bank.

41. The calmness of the lake is short-lived - after a while it will begin to slowly wake up, stretch, and again change its mood to some other color - whatever it wants today.

42. It is especially pleasant to find yourself on the shore of Alakol after the glacier - the warmth of the sun warms the soul.

43. And in the next part we will continue our journey through the Tien Shan and go to new heights! :-)

On the borders of five countries of Central Asia there are beautiful and majestic mountains - the Tien Shan. On the Eurasian mainland they are second only to the Himalayas and Pamirs, and are also one of the largest and most extensive Asian mountain systems. The Heavenly Mountains are rich not only in minerals, but also in interesting geographical facts. The description of any object is built from many points and important nuances, but only complete coverage of all directions will help to create a complete geographical image. But let's not rush, but let's dwell in detail on each section.

Figures and facts: all the most important things about the Heavenly Mountains

The name Tien Shan has Turkic roots, because the peoples of this particular linguistic group have inhabited this territory since time immemorial and still live in this region. If translated literally, the toponym will sound like Heavenly Mountains or Divine Mountains. The explanation for this is very simple, the Turks from time immemorial worshiped the sky, and if you look at the mountains, you get the impression that with their peaks they reach the very clouds, most likely that is why the geographical object received such a name. And now, some more facts about the Tien Shan.

Where does the description of any object usually begin? Of course, from numbers. The length of the Tien Shan mountains is more than two and a half thousand kilometers. Believe me, this is a pretty impressive figure. To compare, the territory of Kazakhstan extends for 3,000 kilometers, and Russia extends for 4,000 kilometers from north to south. Imagine these objects and appreciate the scale of these mountains.
The height of the Tien Shan mountains reaches 7000 meters. The system has 30 peaks with a height of more than 6 kilometers, while Africa and Europe cannot boast of a single such mountain.
I would especially like to highlight the highest point of the Heavenly Mountains. Geographically, it is located on the border of Kyrgyzstan and the Republic of China. There has been a very long debate around this issue, and neither side wants to give in. The highest peak of the Tien Shan mountains is the ridge with the triumphant name - Victory Peak. The height of the object is 7439 meters.

Location of one of the largest mountain systems in Central Asia

If you transfer the mountain system onto a political map, the object will fall on the territory of five states. More than 70% of the mountains are located in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China. The rest comes from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. But the highest points and massive ridges are located in the northern part. If we consider the geographical position of the Tien Shan mountains from a regional perspective, then this will be the central part of the Asian continent.

Geographical zoning and relief

Northern Tien Shan. This part is almost entirely located on the territory of Kazakhstan. The main ridges are Zailiysky and Kungey Alatau. These mountains are distinguished by their average height (no more than 4000 m) and highly rugged terrain. There are many small rivers in the region that originate from glacial peaks. The region also includes the Ketmen Ridge, which Kazakhstan shares with Kyrgyzstan. On the territory of the latter, there is another ridge of the northern part - the Kyrgyz Alatau.
Eastern Tien Shan. Of the largest parts of the mountain system, we can distinguish: Borokhoro, Bogdo-Ula, as well as medium and small ranges: Iren-Khabyrga and Sarmin-Ula. The entire eastern part of the Heavenly Mountains is located in China, mainly where the permanent settlement of the Uighurs is located; it is from this local dialect that the ranges received their names.
Western Tien Shan. This orographic unit occupies the territories of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The largest is the Karatau ridge, and then comes the Talas Alatau, which got its name from the river of the same name. These parts of the Tien Shan mountains are quite low, the relief drops to 2000 meters. This is because this is an older region, the territory of which has not undergone repeated mountain building. Thus, the destructive power of exogenous factors did its job.
Southwestern Tien Shan. This region is located in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In fact, this is the lowest part of the mountains, which consists of the Fregan ridge, framing the valley of the same name.
Central Tien Shan. This is the highest part of the mountain system. Its ranges occupy the territory of China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. It is in this part that almost all six-thousanders are located.

"Gloomy Giant" - the highest point of the Heavenly Mountains

As mentioned earlier, the highest point of the Tien Shan Mountains is called Victory Peak. It is easy to guess that the toponym got its name in honor of a significant event - the victory of the USSR in the most difficult and bloody war of the 20th century. Officially, the mountain is located in Kyrgyzstan, near the border with China, not far from the autonomy of the Uyghurs. However, for a long time the Chinese side did not want to recognize the ownership of the object by the Kyrgyz, and even after documenting the fact, it continues to look for ways to take possession of the desired peak.

This object is very popular among climbers; it is on the list of five seven-thousanders that must be conquered to receive the title “Snow Leopard”. Near the mountain, just 16 kilometers to the southwest, is the second highest peak of the Divine Mountains. We are talking about Khan Tengri - the highest point of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Its height is only slightly less than seven kilometers and is 6995 meters.

Centuries-old history of rocks: geology and structure

In the place where the Tien Shan Mountains are located, there is an ancient belt of increased endogenous activity; these zones are also called geosynclines. Since the system has a fairly decent height, this suggests that it was subject to secondary uplift, although it has a rather ancient origin. Research shows that the base of the Heavenly Mountains is composed of Precambrian and Lower Paleozoic rocks. The mountain strata were subjected to long-term deformations and the influence of endogenous forces, which is why the minerals are represented by metamorphosed gneisses, sandstones and typical limestone and slate.

Since much of this region was flooded during the Mesozoic, the mountain valleys are covered with lacustrine sediments (sandstone and clay). The activity of glaciers also did not pass without a trace; morainic deposits stretch from the highest peaks of the Tien Shan mountains and reach the very border of the snow line.

Gifts of the Heavenly Mountains: minerals

A description of the Tien Shan Mountains cannot do without mentioning mineral resources, because this system brings very good income to the states in whose territories it is located. First of all, these are complex conglomerates of polymetallic ores. Large deposits are found in all five countries. Most of the minerals in the depths of the mountains are lead and zinc, but you can find something rarer. For example, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have established antimony mining, and there are also separate deposits of molybdenum and tungsten. In the southern part of the mountains, near the Fregan Valley, coal is mined, as well as other fossil fuels: oil and gas. Rare elements found include strontium, mercury and uranium. But most of all, the territory is rich in building materials and semi-precious stones. The slopes and foothills of the mountains are strewn with small deposits of cement, sand and various types of granite.

However, many mineral resources are not accessible for development, because the infrastructure is very poorly developed in mountainous regions. Mining in hard-to-reach places requires very modern technical means and large financial investments. States are in no hurry to develop the subsoil of the Tien Shan and often transfer the initiative to the private hands of foreign investors.

Ancient and modern glaciation of the mountain system

The height of the Tien Shan mountains is several times higher than the snow line, which means it is no secret that the system is covered by a huge number of glaciers. However, the situation with glaciers is very unstable, because in the last 50 years alone, their number has decreased by almost 25% (3 thousand square kilometers). For comparison, this is even larger than the area of the city of Moscow. The depletion of snow and ice cover in the Tien Shan threatens the region with a serious environmental disaster. Firstly, it is a natural source of nutrition for rivers and alpine lakes. Secondly, this is the only source of fresh water for all living things that inhabit the mountain slopes, including local peoples and settlements. If changes continue at the same pace, then by the end of the 21st century, the Tien Shan will lose more than half of its glaciers and will leave four countries without a valuable water resource.

Non-freezing lake and other water bodies

The highest mountain of the Tien Shan is located near the highest lake in Asia - Issyk-Kul. This object belongs to the state of Kyrgyzstan, and is popularly called the Unfreezing Lake. It's all about low pressure at high altitude and water temperature, thanks to which the surface of this lake never freezes. This place is the main tourist area of the region; on an area of more than 6 thousand square kilometers, there is a huge number of high-mountain resorts and various recreational areas.

In addition to lakes, the mountains are cut by a huge number of river valleys. Small rivers originate from the very tops and are fed by melted glacial waters. Many of them are lost on the mountain slopes, others unite into larger bodies of water and carry their waters to the foot.

From picturesque meadows to icy peaks: climate and natural conditions

Where the Tien Shan Mountains are located, natural zones replace each other with height. Due to the fact that the orographic units of the system have heterogeneous relief, different natural zones may be located at the same level in different parts of the Heavenly Mountains:

Alpine meadows. They can be located both at an altitude of more than 2500 meters and at 3300 meters. The peculiarity of this landscape is the lush, hilly valleys that surround bare rocks.
Forest zone. Quite rare in this region, mainly in inaccessible high mountain gorges.
Forest-steppe. The trees in this zone are low, mostly small-leaved or coniferous. To the south, the meadow and steppe landscape is more clearly visible.
Steppe. This natural area covers foothills and valleys. There is a huge variety of meadow grasses and steppe plants. The further south the region, the more clearly visible is the semi-desert and in some places even desert landscape.

An untouched corner of nature: animals and plants

The Tien Shan Mountains have become home to a huge number of living beings. The fauna is extremely diverse and varies significantly depending on the region. For example, the Northern part of the mountains is represented by European and Siberian types, while the Western Tien Shan is inhabited by typical representatives of the Mediterranean, African and Himalayan regions. You can also safely meet typical representatives of mountain fauna: snow leopards, snowcocks and mountain goats. The forests are inhabited by common foxes, wolves and bears.

The flora is also very diverse; fir and Mediterranean walnut can easily coexist in the region. In addition, a huge number of medicinal plants and valuable herbs are found here. This is a real phyto-pantry of Central Asia.

It is very important to protect the Tien Shan from human influence; for this purpose, two reserves and one national park have been created in the region. There are so few places left on the planet with untouched nature, so it is important to devote every effort to preserve this wealth for posterity.