Stanovoe highland: geographical location, coordinates, description

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Stanovoe Upland - the mountain system of Eastern Siberia. It stretched in the direction from the southwest to the northeast for 700 km. The width of the mountain system is more than 200 km. The western part approaches the shores of Lake Baikal, and the eastern part of the peaks reach the upper reaches of the river. Olekma. Sharp high mountain ranges (3,000 m), which alternate with intermountain basins (within 800–1,000 m above sea level), this is exactly how you can see the Stanovoye Upland. The coordinates of this mountain system are: 56°05'00″ north latitude, 114°30'00″ east longitude. On the map of Russia, it is located on the territory of Buryatia (the center of Asia).

Ridges

The mountain system is divided into 7 ranges, located from west to east in the following direction:

• South Muisky ridge with the highest point Muisky Giant (3 067 m).
• North-Muisky Range - maximum height - 2,537 m.
• Verkhneangarsky ridge. The highest peak is 2,641 m.
• The Kodar Ridge is a continuation of the North Muya. Maximum height - BAM peak (3,072 m).
• Udokan Ridge with a maximum height of 2,561 m.
• Kalari Ridge is a continuation of Udokan. The prevailing heights are less than those of other highland ranges. The maximum peak is Mount Skalisty Golets, 2,519 m high.
• Nizhnekalarsky ridge is a branch of the Kalarsky ridge. South.

All 7 ridges of the Stanovoy Upland are represented by pointed peaks, rocky ridges with bald terraces. These are the so-called alpine landforms.

Mountain basins

Between the ridges described above there are large mountain basins:

• The Muisko-Kuandinskaya basin is located between the South Muisky and North Muisky ridges.
• Verkhneangarskaya hollow. It is located between the North Muya and Upper Angara ranges.
• Chara Depression. It is located between the Kalarsky, Kodar and Udokan ridges.

All these basins are of the Baikal type, located at an altitude of no more than one thousand meters.

Stanovoe Highlands: characteristics

The base of the Stanovoy Highland is crystalline and metamorphic rocks of the Archean and Proterozoic periods. Intermontane depressions are composed of strata of deposits of the Cenozoic period. Permafrost rocks are also widespread throughout the highlands.

The relief-forming process of this mountain system continues to this day. Factors confirming this:high seismic activity in the region, strong dissection of the relief and widespread permafrost zones.

Mineral resources

Like other formations of this type, the Stanovoe Upland is "strewn" with various kinds of mineral deposits. Large deposits of coal and copper have been discovered within the Kodar Range. Copper ores are mined at Kalarsky. There are also deposits of gold and fluorite. In the valley of the Chara River (Kodar Ridge), a lilac-colored mineral, charoite, is mined, which is used as an ornamental jewelry stone. The extraction of these minerals is one of the main sectors of the economy of this region.

Climatic features

The climate of this region is influenced by the height and geographical position of the Stanovoy Upland. Within its limits, a sharply continental type is observed. The climate differs only at the peaks and in the basins. In general, summer is warm, but short (on the ridges it lasts a maximum of 2 months, in the basins it lasts 3 weeks longer). But the winter in this area is long and very cold. The average annual rainfall is from 300 mm within the basins, 1000 mm at the peaks. It is worth noting that most of them fall in mid-July and August. In the basins in summer the temperature does not rise above +19 °C, and at an altitude of 1.5 thousand m - +13 °C. In winter, the thermometer shows -30 … -34 ° С. It is much colder in the valleys, here this figure can drop to -40 °С.

Features of the region

On the tops of high mountain ranges there are glaciers and other forms of similar relief: karts, moraine ridges, trough valleys. There are many lakes and rivers in the intermountain depressions, which are fed by melt water.

The natural zoning of the Stanovoy Ridge is characterized by altitudinal zonality. On the foothills and slopes of the ridges, deciduous forests are common, which at an altitude of 1200-1600 m are replaced by birch and deciduous crooked forests. The high-mountain regions are represented by mountain taiga, pre-bald woodlands and stony bald mountains. Intermontane depressions are filled with floodplain meadows, often swampy, and pine and pine-deciduous forests grow on thick sandy strata.

If you look at the map where the Stanovoye Upland is located, then administratively this region belongs to the Republic of Buryatia, Irkutsk and Chita regions.

Use

The area of the Stanovoy Ridge is quite well studied and developed. To a greater extent, this became possible due to the emergence of the Baikal-Amur Mainline. The route cuts through all 7 mountain ranges of the highlands. The most difficult for the construction of the highway was the Severo-Muisky ridge. The construction of the road took place intermittently for 26 years. Inside the ridge, the longest railway tunnel in the Russian Federation, Severomuysky, was pierced. Its length is more than 15.3 thousand meters. Railway stations and settlements have been built on both sides of the highway.