Kokshetau Mountains

Kokshetau Mountains (Kazakh: Көкшетау тауы) or Kokshetau Massif is a mountain massif in the Akmola Region, Kazakhstan.[1]

This article is about the massif. For the mountain system, see Kokshetau Hills.
Kokshetau Mountains
Көкшетау тауы
Landscape of the massif
Highest point
PeakMount Kokshe
Elevation970 m (3,180 ft)
Coordinates53°04′48″N 70°11′18″E
Dimensions
Length20 km (12 mi) N / S
Width5 km (3.1 mi) E / W
Geography
Kokshetau Mountains is located in Kazakhstan
Kokshetau Mountains
Location in Kazakhstan
LocationKazakhstan
Range coordinates53°00′N 70°21′E
Parent rangeKazakh Uplands
Geology
OrogenyAlpine orogeny
Age of rockDevonian and Silurian
Type of rockGranite

Shchuchinsk city and Burabay spa town are located in the massif. The mountains are part of the Burabay National Park, a protected area.[2][3]

Geography

The Kokshetau Mountains are part of the Kokshetau Hills, a subsystem of the Kazakh Uplands (Saryarka). It is a small, compact mountainous cluster of moderate altitude located in the northern sector of the highlands. Small lakes lie in the central, western and northwestern area of the range, including Burabay, Shchuchye, Ulken Shabakty and Kishi Shabakty.[2][3]

The highest point of the massif is 947 meters (3,107 ft) high Mount Kokshe, located in the northern part, near Kishi Shabakty lake. River Kylshakty has its sources in the Kokshetau Massif. The slopes are often cut by deep ravines. Owing to denudation and weathering of the mountains there are bizarre-shaped rocky outcrops. Some of these rock formations display horizontal layers of eroded granite stone and look like ruined towers.[1][2]

Kokshetau Massif in the winter. Sentinel-2 image
A rocky outcrop rising above the forest.

Flora

The mountain slopes have forests of pine, birch, poplar, except for the rocky tops. There are also some areas of shrub growth. In the valleys at the foot of the mountains there are meadows of wheatgrass, couch grass and bromes, among other grass types. Steppe vegetation is present in the plains surrounding the massif.[1]

See also

References
  1. Nature of Kazakhstan: Encyclopedia / General editor. B. O. Jacob. - Almaty: "Kazakh Encyclopedia" LLP, 2011. T.Z. - 304 pages. ISBN 9965-893-64-0 (T.Z.), ISBN 9965-893-19-5
  2. Google Earth
  3. "N-42 Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 1 November 2022.
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