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Where are most Tien Shan glaciers located?

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Approximately four-fifths of the total area covered by glaciers in the Tien Shan mountain system is located within the borders of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.1

While glaciers are found throughout the region, significant glacial development occurs in several specific areas, including:

  • The region surrounding Khan Tängiri and Victory peaks1
  • The Eren Habirga Mountains1
  • The Kakshaal Range1
  • The Ak-Shyyrak Range1
  • The Ile Alataü Range1
  • The southern Tien Shan1

The largest glacier in the system, the Engil’chek (Inylchek) Glacier, is situated in the central Tien Shan, descending from the western slopes of the Khan Tängiri massif.1