Qoltag Mountains

mountains, China

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June 24, 2026

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The Qoltag Mountains are a mountain range located in the eastern part of the Tien Shan mountain system, primarily in China. They form the southern boundary of the Turfan Depression and extend eastward, eventually joining the Qilian Mountains. These mountains are characterized by steep slopes and glacial features in their higher elevations, with peaks reaching up to 18,200 feet (5,550 meters). The Qoltag Mountains are part of a larger geological structure that has experienced significant tectonic activity, including faulting and uplift, over millions of years.1

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Tien Shan
Physiography
…the south by the low-rising Qoltag Mountains. West of the Turfan Depression is one of the greatest mountain knots of the eastern Tien Shan: the Eren Habirga Mountains, which reach elevations of 18,200 feet (5,550 metres). The ridge has considerable glacial development, as well as numerous forms of relief that…
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…the south by the low-rising Qoltag Mountains. West of the Turfan Depression is one of the greatest mountain knots of the eastern Tien Shan: the Eren Habirga Mountains, which reach elevations of 18,200 feet (5,550 metres). The ridge has considerable glacial development, as well as numerous forms of relief that…
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Turfan Depression
…another major fault forms the Qoltag Mountains, which divide the basin into two sections. The northern section forms a zone at the foot of the Bogda range. This area, about 500 feet (150 meters) above sea level, drains into the lower southern depression through steep canyonlike gorges. The lower basin,…
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…another major fault forms the Qoltag Mountains, which divide the basin into two sections. The northern section forms a zone at the foot of the Bogda range. This area, about 500 feet (150 meters) above sea level, drains into the lower southern depression through steep canyonlike gorges. The lower basin,…
Read More