Tibet is separated from Indian Subcontinent with powerful rampart of Himalaya Mountains. On its area, there is situated Transhimalaya as well as mountains and table plains of Tibet Highlands and Kchun-lun, one of longest great mountain system of the world, forming natural border between traditional Tibet area and China. Inside Tibet Region, there is to be found Gan Rinpocche, the holiest mountain of Asia, in India and in West known under name of Kailas. At present, Tibet forms a part of The People´s Republic of China. However, China occupied this territory by force in 1950.

Transhimalaya

These mountains are also known under the name of Hedin Mountain Range. From geographical point of view, it is extended between 29° and 33° north  latitude, 80° and 96° east longitude. It passes from Karakoram, in the length of 1600 kms and width of 300 kms to the east, deeply inside Tibet. Complicated mountain system is composed of three main belts. On west, there is Ngari Gangri, with its eastern part, is transferring in south into Kailas Massif, and consequently into Nancchen Thangla Mountain Range in the east. Complicated mountain massif of Transhimalaya form immense network of ridges, separated from each other by deep valleys, where the rivers flow, falling into many lakes or into Cangpo, the greatest Tibet river. Snow line in these mountains is moving from 5500 to 6000 metres of the altitude, and belongs to the highest ones of the whole world, and forest border is moving at 4000 metres. Average height of passes is 5000 metres, whereas the highest peaks exceed the height of 7000 metres above sea level: Lungpo Gangri (7059 m) and Nancchen Thangla (7088 m). Tibet peaks are covered with ice and are often named as Gangri (Snow Mountain or Ice Mountain). In Tibet language, gang means the same as snow or glacier, and ri is an expression for a mountain.

So, Ngari Gangri begins as powerful mountain massif, where a peak of the same name dominates, arising to the height of 6429 metres. It is leading in south-east direction, as a belt of ridges, covered with snow, reaching the height of 5700 m to 6300 m and with high situated cols. Kailas Mountain Ridge begins in west at Pangong Lake, with Sadzhum Shield (6101 m) and continues from nort-west to south-east, up to 84° of east longituded. The highest point is Kailas Holy Mountain (6714 m). At springs of Cangpo river, there is starting from Kailas Mountain Range up to Nancchen Thangla Ridge, passing through south-east Tibet, between 29° and 33° of north latitude. Its highest peak is a shield of the same name – 7088 metres above sea level. It is placed in distance of 120 kms from Lhasa, Tibet capital, in north-west direction. The second shield – Dzhomo Gangri (7048 m) is situated in south-west direction from Nancchen Thangla Shield, 60 kms distant. Except these two peaks, there are to be found here another nine mountains, exceeding the height of 6000 metres.

Tibet Highlands

Tibet Highlands present extensive territory of inside Tibet, with its mountain and table plain systems, bordered with Transhimalaya from south, and Kchun-lun mountain range massif from north, Karakoram area from west and East-Tibet edge Mountain Ranges from the east. They are, for instance, Dangla, Kokoshili and Baiankara Mountains, and Cchangthang, Tibet table land, taking the territory of 500 000 square kilometres, covering great part of north Tibet at the same time. Snow line in this area is moving between 5500-6000 metres and forest border is placed in the height of 3000-3500 metres above sea level. The forests could be found in east part of Tibet Highlands only. The most important mountain massif of Changthang is those of Dangla (or Thangla, Tanggula), situated along Cching-Tibet road. The highest peaks exceed here the height of 6300 metres and cols, situated in the heights of 5000 metres above sea level.

Kchun-lun, Altyn-tagh, Nan-shan

The area of Kchun-lun is extended on territory of Tibet, Uigursk and inside China. It is negotiating, at the same time, about the highest and longest mountain range of North Tibet. Its peaks reach the heights of 7000 metres. At present, this grand mountain system is divided into three independent mountain ridges: Kchun-lun, Altyn-tagh, Nan-shan and Macchen. This mountain range is bordered from north with Central Asia deserts, such as Takla-Makan and Gobi, and from south with Tibet table-land. To the highest peaks of Kchun-lun belong, as follows: Nan Pou (7167 m), Mustagh (6710 m), Ulug – Mustagh (6987 m) and Bokalyk-tagh (6860 m). Alyn-tagh (Gold Mountains) are separated from Kchun-lun in Akar- Chekyl-tagh. It is arising above Tarim Basin (forming south-east border at the same time) with exceed of 3000 metres. It is wild ridge with sharp rocky shields and burrowed river-lowlands. Central part of main massif reaches the heights of 6000 metres, and its peaks are covered with glaciers. Nan-shan (South Mountains) establish to east edge of Altyn-tagh. It is mountain system composed from several belts, separated from each other with longitudinal lowlands. The ridges are steep and drop violently into valleys. The highest peaks are situated in west part of this mountain range and are 5100 metres high.

Eastern Border Mountain Ranges

East border of Tibet and Kchun-lun is formed with Kham Gangdug, i,.e, six ice mountain ranges of Kham. They are  the following ranges: Zabmo Gang, Cchawa Gang, Powo Gang, Markham Gang, Mina Gang and Yarmo Gang. Different  mountain ranges are separated from each other by great south Asian rivers, such as Mekong and Salwin, flowing through deep valleys. The most known mountain range is those of Mina Gang, with its highest peak of Mina Gangkar (7556 m)- white ice mountain. In Tibet, you can meeet the lakes, situated in the height exceeding 4000 metres of altitude. Most known from them is those of Namccho (Sky Lake) with the extention of 2207 square kilometres, in the height of 4718 metres. To the next belong, for instance Ziling Lake (1673 square kilometres, 4495 m) and much higher Ngangla Ringccho Lake (4748 m). In Tibet territory live many sorts of animals, such as: kabar, Tibet nahur, chamois, gazelle goa, bears, fox, hares, hamsters, Tibet marmots, etc. As far as local population is concerned, Tibet nation is well known with their characteristic culture all over the world, first of all with special Tibet form of Buddhism. At present, 5 millions of Tibet people are living in the territory of Peoples Republic of China. However, actual spiritual representant of Tibet – Dalailama - is living, togeteher with hundreds of thousand of Tibet people, in  Indian exile. In West Tibet, especially in west Kchun-lun, are living the Uigurs (Kashgars), living on shepherd activity, mainly sheep breeding.

Text: J. Štantejský

Translation: ing. Jan Jonáš

Photo: Panoramio.com

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