How are the Kunlun Mountains arranged into parallel ridges?

The Kunlun Mountains are characterized by a structure consisting of two or three parallel ridges rather than a single crest, a feature most prominent in their western reaches.1

The arrangement is defined by the following characteristics:

• Bifurcation: A major split occurs south of the oasis town of Qiemo, where the Altun Mountains branch off in a northeasterly direction from the Arkatag Mountains at Mount Muztag.1
• Valleys: High valleys, which often contain saline lakes, are situated between these medial ridges.1
• Regional Variation: In the western margins, the mountains function as a rampart between the Plateau of Tibet and the Tarim Basin, while in the east, the northern rim of the system forms the southern boundary of the Qaidam Basin.21