Baikal folding originates from the time of tectogenesis, and it is located in Siberia. This name was introduced by the geologist Shatsky in the thirties of the last century in honor of the lake of the same name, since it was at that time that this part of the region was formed.
This article tells about the composition and features of folding. Information will help you learn more about this area of the planet.
Folding structure
This folded system was formed as a result of the merger of two regions - Baikal and Yenisei. It has external and internal parts, and the border between them is a zone that runs from Baikal to the Mame River. The areas of Baikal folding are divided into external and internal. The latter include objects rich in ancient rocks.
Features
The main feature of the Baikal folded system is that it was formed over time (the entire last stage of the Proterozoic), and its massifs are located in many parts of the Urals, Taimyr, Kazakhstan, the Caucasus, Iran, Tien Shan and others. In addition, Baikalites are common in other parts of the Earth. For example, in France, India, North America, Australia. However, in these zones, rather, their analogues (Kadoma, Minaas, Musgravids) are located. Baikal folding also covers part of Brazil located on the Red Sea coast.
In the era of Baikal tectogenesis, many platforms of that time were formed as a result of tectonic furrows, which later began to be filled with many sedimentary rocks. As a result of drilling and research work in the field of geophysics, similar grooves were found on other platforms - East European and Siberian. Even in the south of the planet (in the Antarctic parts), this folding formed platforms that experienced metamorphic and magnetic processes.
System Composition
The mountain ranges that Baikal folding is included in the southern part of Siberia. These include Transbaikalia and Pribaikalye, on which Mount Olekmo is located with the corresponding plateaus (Vitim, Baikal) and highlands (Charsky, Patomsky and Severobaikalsky). These parts are subject to glaciation. There are low mountains and hollows located along the fault line.
Baikal folding is rich in a large number of natural resources. The relief is so special that in this system there are various deposits (for example, copper, mercury, gold, tin, zinc and others). And, as the name implies, the main attraction here is Lake Baikal, which has the shape of a crescent. It is located in the Baikal mountain system, surrounded on all sides by ridges. Landscapes of these places attract tourists.
Lake Baikal
Baikal folding is a truly unique place. What is only one lake, which was mentioned a little higher. Its length is more than six hundred kilometers, and the total area covers an area of more than three thousand square meters. km As many know, it is the deepest in the world. In some places, the depth reaches more than one and a half kilometers, and if you take the average value, then about seven hundred. It is well known that a lot of rivers flow into Lake Baikal (more than three hundred), and only one flows out - the Angara. Of the incoming water, more than half are in the river. Selenga. There are several islands on Baikal, the largest of which is Olkhon. It is established that the lake was formed about 25 million years ago. Therefore, a large reservoir is considered not only the deepest, but also the oldest. And thanks to the diverse relief on Lake Baikal, the rich world of flora and fauna.
Baikal region
In the northwestern part of Baikal there are ridges of the Western Baikal region, which is a narrow strip and reaches a height of 450 meters. These rocky formations look incredibly beautiful in appearance and perfectly outline the coast of the lake. Peaked mountain peaks stand out especially. Baikal folding (the relief form is non-standard here) attracts many scientists of the world.
Transbaikalia
Transbaikalia is located between the Baikal region and the Argun River. Its length is about one and a half thousand kilometers and runs from the southwestern region to the northeast. In some places, the mountains are located at water level. Depending on the structure and age of the relief, Transbaikalia can be divided into several corresponding areas. The highest ridge is the Coder, whose height reaches three kilometers. Because of it, many climbers often visit such a natural object as the Baikal folding. The landform of this area is striking. And only on this mountain peak are there glaciers resulting from Quaternary glaciations. This ridge is part of the Stanovoi system, which was formed from valleys and chains between the mountains. The structure of each chain includes gentle loaches and flat ridges. Low mountains are widespread in the southern zone of Transbaikalia. Since in these places a small amount of precipitation falls during the year, erosion processes are irrelevant here. In the eastern part of Transbaikalia, due to heavy rains, proluvial-salt plumes formed. The relief here looks original. It is mainly expressed by flat areas in which high ridges stand out sharply. This type of relief is called Gobi.
All mountain systems of the Baikal folding are distinguished by a unique relief, which is why they are interesting for scientists.