The Kazakh Uplands (Kazakh: Сарыарқа, Saryarqa - "Yellow Ridge", Russian: Казахский мелкосопочник, Kazakhskiy Melkosopochnik), also known as the Kazakh Hummocks, is a large peneplain formation extending throughout the central and eastern regions of Kazakhstan.[1]
| Kazakh Uplands | |
|---|---|
| Сарыарқа / Казахский мелкосопочник | |
Landscape of the Karkaraly Range, one of the ranges of the uplands
| |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Aksoran |
| Elevation | 1,565 m (5,135 ft) |
| Coordinates | 48°25′26″N 75°28′16″E / 48.42389°N 75.47111°E / 48.42389; 75.47111 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 1,200 km (750 mi) E / W |
| Width | 400 km (250 mi) N/ S |
| Geography | |
  Kazakh Uplands Location in Kazakhstan | |
| Location | Kazakhstan |
| Range coordinates | 50°26′N 69°11′E / 50.433°N 69.183°E / 50.433; 69.183 |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Alpine orogeny |
| Age of rock | Paleozoic, Cenozoic |
| Type of rock | Granite, limestone, schist, quartzite, sandstone |
| Kazakh Uplands | |
|---|---|
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands |
| Geography | |
| Area | 72,000 km2 (28,000 sq mi) |
| Country | Kazakhstan |
Administratively the Kazakh Uplands stretch across the East Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Akmola, Ulytau and Karaganda regions. Several notable cities, including the country's capital, Astana, are located in the uplands. There are large deposits of coal in the north and copper in the south.
The Kazakh Uplands are limited by the West Siberian Plain to the north, the Irtysh valley to the northeast, the Balkhash-Alakol Basin to the south and southeast, the Turan Lowland to the southwest and by the Turgay Depression to the west.[2]
Rivers such as the Ishim, Sileti, Sarysu, Nura, Kulanotpes, Ashchysu, Tundik and Uly-Zhylanshyk have their sources in the uplands. Lake Tengiz lies in an intermontane basin of the uplands and is the largest of the area. The Kokshetau Lakes are an important tourist attraction.[3]
The uplands include mountain ranges of moderate altitude separated by elevated flat intermontane basins.[4][5] The main ones are:
Parts of the Kazakh Uplands are included in the Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan World Heritage Site. It belongs to the Palearctic temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregion of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome.[6] The Karkaraly National Park, Kokshetau National Park, Burabay National Park and Bayanaul National Park are protected areas in the ranges of the upland. Rare species, such as the Asiatic cheetah, may still live in the region.
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