Tian Shan

Asian mountain range separating northwest China from Central Asia and Russia

The Tian Shan[a] is a large system of mountain ranges in Central Asia. The tallest mountain is Jengish Chokusu, at 7,439 metres (24,406 ft) high.[1] The eastern part of the ranges became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.[2] The western part in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan became a World Heritage Site in 2016.[3] The ranges are along the border with China and Kyrgyzstan, and stretches towards the west. The ancient North Silk Road used to go next to the mountain range for people to travel between East Asia and the Middle East. They would follow the mountain range when travelling through the Taklamakan Desert.

Tian Shan
Tengri Tagh, Tengir-Too, 天山
The Tian Shan range on the border between China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan with Khan Tengri (7,010 m) visible at center
Highest point
PeakJengish Chokusu
Elevation7,439 m (24,406 ft)
Coordinates42°02′06″N 80°07′32″E / 42.03500°N 80.12556°E / 42.03500; 80.12556
Geography
Tian Shan is located in Continental Asia
Tian Shan
Tian Shan is located in China
Tian Shan
CountriesChina, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan
Range coordinates42°N 80°E / 42°N 80°E / 42; 80
Geology
Age of rockMesozoic and Cenozoic
Official nameXinjiang Tianshan
TypeNatural
Criteriavii, ix
Designated2013 (37th session)
Reference no.1414
RegionAsia
Official nameWestern Tien-Shan
TypeNatural
Criteriax
Designated2016 (40th session)
Reference no.1490
RegionAsia
  1. Chinese: 天山; pinyin: Tiānshān, Dungan: Тянсан, Tiansan; Old Turkic: 𐰴𐰣 𐱅𐰭𐰼𐰃, Tenğri tağ; Turkish: Tanrı Dağı; Mongolian: Тэнгэр уул, Tenger uul; Uyghur: تەڭرىتاغ, Tengri tagh, Тәңри тағ; Kazakh: Тәңіртауы / Алатау, Táńirtaýy / Alataý, تٵ‬ڭٸرتاۋى / الاتاۋ; Kyrgyz: Теңир-Тоо / Ала-Тоо, Teñir-Too / Ala-Too, تەڭىر-توو / الا-توو; Uzbek: Tyan-Shan / Tangritog‘, Тян-Шан / Тангритоғ, تيەن-شەن / تەڭرىتاغ

References

change
  1. Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. pp. 378. ISBN 978-0-89577-087-5.
  2. "新疆天山成功申遗". Archived from the original on 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  3. "Western Tien-Shan". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 17 July 2016.