The Kazakh Uplands ( kk, Сарыарқа, ''Saryarqa'' - "Yellow Ridge", russian: Казахский мелкосопочник, Kazakhskiy Melkosopochnik), also known as the Kazakh Hummocks, is a large
peneplain
390px, Sketch of a hypothetical peneplain formation after an orogeny.
In geomorphology and geology, a peneplain is a low-relief plain formed by protracted erosion. This is the definition in the broadest of terms, albeit with frequency the usage ...
formation extending throughout the central and eastern regions of
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
.Казахский мелкосопочник (Kazakh Uplands) ''
Great Soviet Encyclopedia
The ''Great Soviet Encyclopedia'' (GSE; ) is one of the largest Russian-language encyclopedias, published in the Soviet Union from 1926 to 1990. After 2002, the encyclopedia's data was partially included into the later ''Bolshaya rossiyskaya e ...
'' in 30 vols. — Ch. ed.
A.M. Prokhorov
Alexander Mikhailovich Prokhorov (born Alexander Michael Prochoroff, russian: Алекса́ндр Миха́йлович Про́хоров; 11 July 1916 – 8 January 2002) was an Australian-born Soviet-Russian physicist known ...
. - 3rd ed. - M. Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978. (in Russian)
Administratively the Kazakh Uplands stretch across the
East Kazakhstan
East Kazakhstan Region ( kk, Шығыс Қазақстан облысы, translit=Şyğys Qazaqstan oblysy; russian: Восточно-Казахстанская область, Vostochno-Kazakhstanskaya oblast) is a region of Kazakhstan. It occupi ...
,
Pavlodar
Pavlodar ( ; ) is a city in northeastern Kazakhstan and the capital of Pavlodar Region. It is located 450 km northeast of the national capital Astana and 405 km southeast of the Russian city of Omsk along the Irtysh River. , the cit ...
,
Akmola
Astana, previously known as Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola, and most recently Nur-Sultan, is the capital city of Kazakhstan.
The city lies on the banks of the Ishim River in the north-central part of Kazakhstan, within the Akmola Region, thou ...
,
Ulytau
Ulytau ( kk, Ұлытау, ''Ūlytau''), literally meaning "the great mountain", is a popular Turkic neopagan instrumental folk metal trio from Kazakhstan. Their music combines the sound of the violin and electric guitar with the dombra, a tradit ...
and
Karaganda
Karaganda or Qaraghandy ( kk, Қарағанды/Qarağandy, ; russian: Караганда, ) is the capital of Karaganda Region in the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is the List of most populous cities in Kazakhstan, fourth most populous city in Kaza ...
regions. Several notable cities, including the country's capital,
Astana
Astana, previously known as Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola, and most recently Nur-Sultan, is the capital city of Kazakhstan.
The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim River in the north-central part of Kazakhstan, within the Akmo ...
, are located in the uplands. There are large deposits of
coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Coal is formed when dea ...
in the north and
copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from la, cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkis ...
in the south.
Geography
The Kazakh Uplands are limited by the
West Siberian Plain
The West Siberian Plain (russian: За́падно-Сиби́рская равни́на ''Zapadno-Sibirskaya ravnina'') is a large plain that occupies the western portion of Siberia, between the Ural Mountains in the west and the Yenisei River ...
Balkhash-Alakol Basin
The Balkhash-Alakol Basin or Balkhash-Alakol Depression( kk, Балқаш-Алакөл ойысы; rus, Балхаш-Алакольская котловина), is a flat structural basin in southeastern Kazakhstan.
to the south and southeast, the
Turan Lowland
The Turan Depression, Turan Lowland or Turanian Basin is a low-lying desert basin region stretching from southern Turkmenistan through Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan.
Geography
The lowland region lies to the east of the Caspian Sea and southeast ...
to the southwest and by the
Turgay Depression
The Turgay Depression, also known as Turgay Basin, Turgay Trough, and Turgay Hollow ( kk, Торғай қолатый; rus, Тургайская ложбина), is a structural basin in Kazakhstan.
to the west.
Google Earth
Google Earth is a computer program that renders a 3D computer graphics, 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposition, superimposing satellite images, aerial photography, and geog ...
Sileti
The Sileti ( kk, Сілеті; russian: Силети) is a river in Kazakhstan. It is long and has a catchment area of .
The Sileti river system is an endorheic watershed in the Akmola, Pavlodar and North Kazakhstan regions of Kazakhstan.
Co ...
Ashchysu
The Ashchysu ( kk, Ащысу) is a river in the Abai Region, Kazakhstan and a tributary of the Shagan (Irtysh), Shagan, of the Irtysh basin. The river is long and the area of its basin is .Google Earth
Geography
The Ashchysu has its sources ...
and Uly-Zhylanshyk have their sources in the uplands. Lake Tengiz lies in an
intermontane basin
Intermontane is a physiographic adjective formed from the prefix " inter-" (''signifying among, between, amid, during, within, mutual, reciprocal'') and the adjective "montane" (inhabiting, or growing in mountainous regions, especially cool, moi ...
of the uplands and is the largest of the area. The Kokshetau Lakes are an important tourist attraction.Селеты ''
Great Soviet Encyclopedia
The ''Great Soviet Encyclopedia'' (GSE; ) is one of the largest Russian-language encyclopedias, published in the Soviet Union from 1926 to 1990. After 2002, the encyclopedia's data was partially included into the later ''Bolshaya rossiyskaya e ...
'' in 30 vols. — Ch. ed.
A.M. Prokhorov
Alexander Mikhailovich Prokhorov (born Alexander Michael Prochoroff, russian: Алекса́ндр Миха́йлович Про́хоров; 11 July 1916 – 8 January 2002) was an Australian-born Soviet-Russian physicist known ...
. - 3rd ed. - M. Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978. (in Russian)
Subranges
The uplands include mountain ranges of moderate altitude separated by elevated flat
intermontane basin
Intermontane is a physiographic adjective formed from the prefix " inter-" (''signifying among, between, amid, during, within, mutual, reciprocal'') and the adjective "montane" (inhabiting, or growing in mountainous regions, especially cool, moi ...
s. The main ones are:
*
Kyzylarai
Kyzylarai ( kz, Қызыларай) is a massif located in Aktogay District, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan.
The place is rich in natural and historical sights. Begazy burial grounds (Begazy-Dandybai culture of the Bronze Age) are one of them. The ...
, highest point
Aksoran
Aksoran ( kk, Ақсораңу; russian: Аксоран) is a mountain in Aktogay District, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan.
The mountain is located about to the ENE of Shabanbay Bi village, formerly known as ''Shilym''. Geologically the peak is ...
Kokshetau Hills
The Kokshetau Hills ( kk, Көкшетау қыраты; russian: Кокшетауская возвышенность) is a system of mountains of moderate altitude in the North Kazakhstan Region and Akmola Region, Kazakhstan.Kokshetau Massif
The Kokshetau Massif or Kokshetau Mountains ( kk, Көкшетау тауы) is a mountain massif in the Akmola Region, Kazakhstan.''Nature of Kazakhstan: Encyclopedia'' / General editor. B. O. Jacob. - Almaty: "Kazakh Encyclopedia" LLP, 2011. T. ...
, highest point
Mount Kokshe
Mount Kokshe, also known as Kokshetau or Kokshe-Tau ( kk, Көкше-тау; , russian: Кокше-тау, гора́ Синю́ха, Gora Sinyukha, Literal translation, lit. 'blueish mountain') is a mountain in the Kokshetau Massif, Akmola Reg ...
,
*
Kent Range
Kent Range ( kk, Кент тауы) is a range of mountains in Karkaraly District, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan.''Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia'' / Ch. ed. B.O. Jakyp. — Almaty: « Kazakh encyclopedia» ZhSS, 2011. ISBN 9965-893-64-0 (T.Z.) ...
, highest point
Mount Kent
Mount Kent is a mountain on East Falkland, Falkland Islands, and is high.
It is located north of Mount Challenger.
History
The mountain saw action during the Falklands War during the Assault on Mount Kent, part of the larger Battle of Mount ...
Akbet
Akbet ( kk, Ақбет) is a mountain in Bayanaul District, Pavlodar Region, Kazakhstan.
Akbet is located about to the NNW of Bayanaul. According to local folklore, the mountain is named after a Kazakhs, Kazakh girl who killed herself there aft ...
,
*
Ulutau
Ulutau ( kk, Ұлытау; russian: Улытау) is a range of mountains in Kazakhstan. Administratively the range is part of the Ulytau District, Karaganda region.Akmeshit,
*
Kyzyltas
Kyzyltas ( kk, Қызылтас) is a range of mountains in Aktogay District, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan.''Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia'' / Ch. ed. B.O. Jakyp. — Almaty: « Kazakh encyclopedia» ZhSS, 2011. ISBN 9965-893-64-0 (T.Z.), ISB ...
Degelen
Degelen ( kk, Дегелең) is a mountain massif in the Abai Region, Kazakhstan.''Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia'' / Ch. ed. B.O. Jakyp. — Almaty: « Kazakh encyclopedia» ZhSS, 2011. ISBN 9965-893-64-0 (T.Z.), ISBN 9965-893-19-5
Semey cit ...
, highest point
*
Chingiztau
Chingiztau ( kk, Шыңғыстау) is a range of mountains in Abai Region, Kazakhstan.''Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia'' / Ch. ed. B.O. Jakyp. — Almaty: « Kazakh encyclopedia» ZhSS, 2011. ISBN 9965-893-64-0 (T.Z.), ISBN 9965-893-19-5
The ...
Mount Ku
Mount Ku ( kk, Қу тауы) is a mountain massif in the Karkaraly District, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan.''Nature of Kazakhstan: Encyclopedia'' / General editor. B. O. Jacob. - Almaty: "Kazakh Encyclopedia" LLP, 2011. T.Z. - 304 pages. ISBN 996 ...
Myrzhyk
The Myrzhyk Range ( kk, Мыржық жотасы) is a mountain massif in the Abai Region, Kazakhstan. The northwestern corner of the range is in Karkaraly District, Karaganda Region.''Nature of Kazakhstan: Encyclopedia'' / General editor. B. O ...
Semizbughy
Semizbughy ( kk, Семізбұғы) is a mountain massif in Bukhar-Zhyrau District, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan.
Semizbughy is the highest point in the district. Semizhbugy mining village is located on the western side, at the foot of the moun ...
Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan
Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan is a part of the Kazakh Uplands (known in Kazakh as ''saryarka'', or "yellow range") which has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was inscribed on July 7, 2008.
(''see'' List of ...
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
. It belongs to the Palearctic temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
ecoregion
An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of l ...
of the
temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands is a terrestrial biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. The predominant vegetation in this biome consists of grass and/or shrubs. The climate is temperate and ranges from Semi-arid climate ...
biome
A biome () is a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate. Biomes may span more than one continent. Biome is a broader ...
Kokshetau National Park
Kokshetau National Park ( kk, Көкшетау ұлттық паркі, ''Kökşetau ūlttyq parkı'') features the unique landscape, archaeological sites, and recreational opportunities of the Kazakh Uplands of Northern Kazakhstan. Located in t ...
,
Burabay National Park
The Burabay National Park (, ) is a natural park located in Burabay District, in Aqmola Region, Kazakhstan, near Nur-Sultan.
The park was selected as one of the top 10 tourist destinations in Kazakhstan.
The park is under the direct jurisdictio ...
protected area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...
s in the ranges of the upland. Rare species, such as the
Asiatic cheetah
The Asiatic cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus venaticus'') is a critically endangered cheetah subspecies currently only surviving in Iran. It once occurred from the Arabian Peninsula and the Near East to the Caspian region, Transcaucasus, Kyzylkum D ...
, may still live in the region.
See also
*
Geography of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is located in Central Asia (with 14% of the country in Eastern Europe). With an area of about Kazakhstan is more than twice the combined size of the other four Central Asian states and 60% larger than Alaska. The country borders Turkmen ...