Altai

Altai or the Altay Range is a long chain traversing the borders of Russia, Kazakhstan, China, and Mongolia. They are fault block mountains trending south-east with their steep fronts facing south-east. The highest point, Mount Belukha (4,506m), lies to the north in the headwaters of the Ob and Irtysh rivers in Russia. The ranges generally exceed 3,000m in elevation and descend towards the south-east in Mongolia. The north-western part receiving heavy precipitation has rich coniferous forests. The lower easterly ranges have extensive grasslands. The Altai extends nearly 1,600 km in west Mongolia as the highest elevations in the country. In central Mongolia, the Changajn (Hangayn) Range runs 800 km parallel to the Altai. The third range, the Chentejn or Hantiyn, is aligned south-west/north-east between Ulanbaatar and the Russian border. A subsidiary range of the Altai trends east of Mt. Belukha along the northern border of Mongolia. North of the Uvs lake, it is referred to as the Tannu Ola Range. The most easterly extension of the Altai is the Sayan Range between the Yenisey River and Baikal Lake. It commences with a northerly bend and then turns south to the Mongolian border. The Kazakh, west of the Altai, and Mongol to the east are nomadic herders raising horses, camels, sheep, and goats. For most, mobile herding is an entire culture and way of life (Goldstein and Beal 1994). Since the growing season is short due to extreme cold, herders keep their flocks alive on `senescent vegetation' for nearly eight months of the year. Apart from livestock, Mongolia's major economic resources come from mineral exploitation.