Sayan Mountains

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The Sayan Mountains (Russian, Sayanskiy Khrebet) are a mountain range in southern Siberia, Asia, forming the eastern continuation of the Sailughem or Altay range, stretching from 89° E to 106° E.

Orographically they are the north border-ridge of the plateau of northwest Mongolia, and separate that region from Siberia.

While the general elevation is 2000 to 2700 m, some of the individual peaks, consisting largely of granites and metamorphic slates, reach altitudes of over 3000 m, with the highest being Munku-Sardyk at 3492 m. The principal passes lie 1800 to 2300 m above the sea, e.g. Muztagh 2280 m, Mongol 1980 m, Tenghyz 2280 m and Obo-sarym 1860 m.

At 92°E the system is pierced by the Bel-kem or upper Yenisei, and at 106°, at its eastern extremity, it terminates above the depression of the Selenga-Orkhon Valley. From the Mongolian plateau the ascent is on the whole gentle, but from the plains of Siberia it is much steeper, despite the fact that the range is masked by a broad belt of subsidiary ranges of an Alpine character, e.g. the Usinsk, Oya, Tunka, Kitoi and Byelaya ranges.

Between the breach of the Yenisei and the Kosso-gol (lake) at 100° 30' E. the system bears also the name of Yerghik-taiga. The flora is on the whole poor, although the higher regions carry good forests of larch, pine, juniper, birch, and alder, with rhododendrons and species of Berberis and Ribes. Lichens and mosses clothe many of the boulders that are scattered over the upper slopes.

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References

Template:FarEast-Russia-geo-stub Template:CAsia-geo-stubde:Sajangebirge et:Sajaanid es:Montañas de Sayan ko:사얀 산맥 lb:Sajanbierger pl:Sajany ru:Саяны fi:Sajanvuoret

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