Ulugh Muztagh
Encyclopedia
Ulugh Muztagh or Ulugh Muztag and Muztag Feng , is an extremely remote mountain group on the northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Located on the border between the Tibetan Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, it is part of the main range of the Kunlun Mountains
of East
-Central
Asia.
For a long time its elevation was thought to be as high as 7,723 metres, but it was measured by a 1985 Sino-American first ascent expedition, who established its true elevation of 6,973 m, which has since been confirmed by SRTM data and modern high resolution Chinese topographic mapping. The subsidiary West Peak was climbed by a Finnish
expedition in 2003 and a height of 6925 metres was confirmed for Ulugh Muztagh II.
There have been only a few attempts to climb Ulugh Muztagh and several of them have not been even able to reach the foot of the mountain. Getting near the mountain requires a difficult drive across largely unpassabe terrain at the elevation of 4300-5000 metres. Expeditions who have climbed the mountain spent 2 to 3 weeks on the approach alone using 4 or 6 wheel drive vehicles.
The 7,723 metre elevation claim was made by the English country gentleman and explorer St George Littledale
in 1895. Despite the fact that earlier explorers had put forward elevations several hundred metres lower, and the scientific 6,973 metre measurement made in 1985, the Littledale elevation has been so resilient that even into the 21st century it still remains the most widely quoted; it is found in generally reliable publications, including the Times Atlas and fact books.
Other remote Tibetan-related mountains whose elevations have been established by SRTM and modern Chinese mapping include:
Northeast of Ulugh Muztagh an endorheic
basin with several important lakes (Aqqikol, Ayakkum, Jingyu, etc.) is located. The basin is bounded by the main range of the Kunlun in the south, and by the more or less parallel range, the Altyn-Tagh
, in the north. Much of the basin is officially protected as the Altun Shan Nature Reserve.
Kunlun Mountains
The Kunlun Mountains are one of the longest mountain chains in Asia, extending more than 3,000 km. In the broadest sense, it forms the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau south of the Tarim Basin and the Gansu Corridor and continues east south of the Wei River to end at the North China Plain.The...
of East
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
-Central
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
Asia.
For a long time its elevation was thought to be as high as 7,723 metres, but it was measured by a 1985 Sino-American first ascent expedition, who established its true elevation of 6,973 m, which has since been confirmed by SRTM data and modern high resolution Chinese topographic mapping. The subsidiary West Peak was climbed by a Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
expedition in 2003 and a height of 6925 metres was confirmed for Ulugh Muztagh II.
There have been only a few attempts to climb Ulugh Muztagh and several of them have not been even able to reach the foot of the mountain. Getting near the mountain requires a difficult drive across largely unpassabe terrain at the elevation of 4300-5000 metres. Expeditions who have climbed the mountain spent 2 to 3 weeks on the approach alone using 4 or 6 wheel drive vehicles.
The 7,723 metre elevation claim was made by the English country gentleman and explorer St George Littledale
George Littledale
Clement St. George Royds Littledale and his wife Teresa were known in their time as the greatest British Central Asia travellers of the nineteenth century. Littledale is also considered by many hunters to be one of the greatest big game hunters of all time...
in 1895. Despite the fact that earlier explorers had put forward elevations several hundred metres lower, and the scientific 6,973 metre measurement made in 1985, the Littledale elevation has been so resilient that even into the 21st century it still remains the most widely quoted; it is found in generally reliable publications, including the Times Atlas and fact books.
Other remote Tibetan-related mountains whose elevations have been established by SRTM and modern Chinese mapping include:
- Nganglong (Aling) Kangri, 32°48′30"N 81°00′03"E, 6,720 m, but still often quoted at 7,315 m
- Amne MachinAmne MachinAmne Machin is the highest peak of a mountain range named Amne Machin , or, in Chinese,Animaqing Shan in the province of Qinghai in west-central China.-Geography:...
(Maqen Gangri), 34°47′54"N 99°27′45"E, 6,282 m, but still often quoted at 7,160 m - Bukadaban FengBukadaban FengBukadaban Feng or Buka Daban Feng , Syn Qing Feng or Bokalik Tagh , is a remote peak on the border between Xinjiang and Qinghai provinces of China. It is part of the Kunlun Mountains of East-Central Asia. At , Bukadaban Feng is the highest point of the Qinghai province and with a prominence of ,...
, 36°01′27"N 90°51′57"E, 6,860 m, but still quoted much higher - Zangser Kangrihttp://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/154881/zangser-kangri.html, 34°23′39"N 85°51′00"E, 6,540 m, but still sometimes quoted at 6,940 m.
Northeast of Ulugh Muztagh an endorheic
Endorheic
An endorheic basin is a closed drainage basin that retains water and allows no outflow to other bodies of water such as rivers or oceans...
basin with several important lakes (Aqqikol, Ayakkum, Jingyu, etc.) is located. The basin is bounded by the main range of the Kunlun in the south, and by the more or less parallel range, the Altyn-Tagh
Altyn-Tagh
Altyn-Tagh, Astyn-Tagh, Altun Mountains, Altun Shan or Aerjin Shan Tagh proper is a part of the range south of Lop Nor), is a mountain range in northwestern China that separates the eastern Tarim Basin from the Tibetan Plateau...
, in the north. Much of the basin is officially protected as the Altun Shan Nature Reserve.