Which basins and plains surround the Tien Shan mountains?

The Tien Shan mountain system is surrounded by several major basins and plains that define its geography in Central Asia:

• North: The system is bounded by the Junggar (Dzungarian) Basin in northwestern China and the southern Kazakhstan plains.1
• Southeast: The mountains are bordered by the Tarim Basin.1
• Southwest: The system is bounded by the Alay, Surkhandarya, and Hisor valleys, as well as the Pamirs to the south.1
• Internal Features: The Tien Shan also contains numerous internal basins and valleys, such as the Turfan (Turpan) Depression, the Hami (Qomul) Basin, the Ili River valley, the Lake Ysyk basin, and the Fergana Valley.2

Additionally, the Takla Makan Desert is flanked by the Tien Shan to the north, with a band of sloping desert lowland lying between the mountains and the sandy desert in the south and west.3