What are the Mazartag Mountains and where are they located?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Map of Asia highlighting the location of the Takla Makan Desert in northwestern China, with the desert area shaded in orange. Surrounding regions, including parts of Europe, Africa, and the Pacific Ocean, are shown for geographic context. An inset in the top right corner provides a global view with the desert's location marked. — Takla Makan Desert The Takla Makan Desert is flanked by high mountain ranges: the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west.

The Mazartag Mountains are an arc-shaped mountain range located in the western part of the Takla Makan Desert in China.1

They are situated between the Hotan and Yarkand river valleys and arch toward the southwest. Composed of Cenozoic-age sandstones and clays, the range extends approximately 90 miles (145 km) in length and 2 to 3 miles (3 to 5 km) in width. While they reach a maximum elevation of 5,363 feet (1,635 metres), they typically rise only 1,000 to 1,150 feet (300 to 350 metres) above the surrounding sandy plain. The mountains are characterized by a sparse covering of desert-type vegetation and a shallow mantle of eluvium and rock debris.1