Junggar Basin

Junggar Basin

Chinese (Pinyin)  Zhunga'er Pendi  or  (Wade-Giles romanization)  Chun-ko-erh P'en-ti,  conventional  Dzungarian Basin 

      extensive basin in the Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang (Sinkiang, Uygur Autonomous Region of), northwestern China.

      The basin is located between the Mongolian Altai Mountains, on the Sino-Mongolian border, to the north, and the Borohoro (Poluokenu) and Eren Habirga mountains, to the south; the latter run east and west immediately to the north of the Tien Shan (“Celestial Mountains”). To the east and southeast, respectively, the basin is bounded by the Baytag Bogd (Baytik) and Bogda mountains. The basin's western limit is defined by the Dzungarian Alatau and Tarbagatay (Ta'erbahatai) mountain ranges, which separate it from the Lake Balqash (Balkhash, Lake) depression in Kazakhstan.

      The main pass through the western ranges is the so-called Dzungarian Gate (Junggar Men), which leads to Lake Alaköl and Lake Balqash in Kazakhstan. In the far north the Irtysh (Ertix) River (Irtysh River) drains into Lake Zaysan across the Kazakhstan border. Otherwise, the Junggar Basin is an area of internal drainage, with the rivers from the Altai draining into Lake Jili and those from the southern ranges draining into Lakes Manasi or Aibi (Ebinur) in the low-lying depression immediately southeast of the Dzungarian Gate. The whole depression lies between 1,650 and 3,300 feet (500 and 1,000 metres) above sea level, with a general slope from northeast to southwest, where Lake Aibi lies at an elevation of little more than 620 feet (190 metres).

      The area is very dry and receives only 6–12 inches (150–300 mm) of precipitation annually. It also experiences great extremes of temperature. The surrounding mountains, however, receive much heavier precipitation, and many of the northern ranges and the Altai are forested. The east-central part of the basin is a desert (the Dzungarian Gobi) but is not totally barren. Surrounding it are zones of steppe (grassy plains) and semisteppe watered by seasonal watercourses that often drain into saline marshes. There are few rivers in the basin.

      The population consists mostly of Uighurs and various Turkic or Mongol peoples. The only Chinese (Han) inhabitants are industrial workers and settlers on the southern oases and state farms.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Junggar — or Dzungarian Basin or Dzungaria geographical name region W China in N Xinjiang Uygur N of the Tian Shan …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Junggar — /ˈdʒʌŋga/ (say junggah) noun an arid basin in western China, in northern Xinjiang Uygur between the Altai Mountains and the Tien Shan. Formerly, Dzungaria …  

  • Foreland basin — basins, where accommodation space is generated by lithospheric extension. Types of Foreland BasinForeland basins can be divided into two categories: * Peripheral (Pro) foreland basins, which occur on the plate that is subducted or underthrust… …   Wikipedia

  • Dzungarian Basin — I. geographical name see Dzungaria II. geographical name see Junggar …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Dzungaria — For empire established by the Dzungar people, see Zunghar Khanate. Dzungaria   Dzungar …   Wikipedia

  • china — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. a translucent ceramic material, biscuit fired at a high temperature, its glaze fired at a low temperature. 2. any porcelain ware. 3. plates, cups, saucers, etc., collectively. 4. figurines made of porcelain or ceramic material …   Universalium

  • China — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. People s Republic of, a country in E Asia. 1,221,591,778; 3,691,502 sq. mi. (9,560,990 sq. km). Cap.: Beijing. 2. Republic of. Also called Nationalist China. a republic consisting mainly of the island of Taiwan off the SE coast …   Universalium

  • Asia — /ay zheuh, ay sheuh/, n. a continent bounded by Europe and the Arctic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. 2,896,700,000; ab. 16,000,000 sq. mi. (41,440,000 sq. km). * * * I Largest continent on Earth. It is bounded by the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean …   Universalium

  • Ürümqi — /yuu rddyuum chee / n. a city in and the capital of Xinjiang Uygur region, in NW China. 500,000. Also, Urumchi, Urumtsi. Formerly, Dihua. * * * or Urumchi or Wu lu mu ch i City (pop., 1999 est.: 1,258,457), capital of Xinjiang autonomous region,… …   Universalium

  • Xinjiang — For other uses, see Xinjiang (disambiguation). Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Chinese : 新疆维吾尔自治区 Xīnjiāng Wéiwú ěr Zìzhìqū Uyghur  …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”