Mountains in Uzbekistan are located in the heart of Asia. Although they are not so high compared to those in neighboring states, they are no less beautiful and popular among tourists.
General information about the mountains of Uzbekistan
These mountains belong to the mountain systems of the Southern and Western Tien Shan. They are located in Central Asia. In Uzbekistan, the mountains are not so great in comparison with those in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the heights range from 2 to 4 thousand meters. But at the same time, all four-thousandths are located close to state borders. If we move further to the territory of Tajikistan, then there are already heights of more than 5 thousand, for example, the Fan Mountains. Uzbekistan has the highest point that belongs to the Gissar Range - Mount Babatag (4668 meters). Mountains occupy about a fifth of the territory of the republic, their area is 96 thousand square kilometers. A tenth of the total population of Uzbekistan lives in these places.
What are the mountains in Uzbekistan (name)?
The following ranges are located on the territory of Uzbekistan : Koksu, Zarafshan, Chatkal, Karzhantau, Pskem, Gissar, Maidantau, Kurama, Ugam. All of them are a continuation or spurs of the mountain systems of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Western Tien Shan
The Tien Shan is a powerful mountain system, one of the highest in the Eurasian mountain belt, crossing the entire mainland. The Western Tien Shan is an extensive part of this entire mountain system. The Tien Shan mountains (Uzbekistan) include the Talas Alatau, which, starting in Kyrgyzstan, fan-shaped diverges in the territory of Uzbekistan. These are such spurs as: Chatkal, Ugam, Karzhantau, Sandalash, Pskem, Maydantalsky. The ranges are separated by river valleys: Koksu, Ugam, Akhangaran, Chatkal and others.
Ugam ridge
It is the most extreme and western in Talas Alatau. The Ugam ridge is very high, rocky, and strongly dissected; it is a watershed on the one hand for the Pskem and Arys rivers, and on the other for Pskem and Ugam.
The height of the Ugam range ranges from 3000 to 3500 meters. The glaciers and snowfields covering the rocks give rise to rivers. The Ugamian ridge is composed of crystalline rocks.
Pskem Range
This is the second branch of Talas Alatau. The Pskem Range extends 130 kilometers to the southwest. It is slightly higher and more rocky than Ugam, it includes Mount Beshtar (4299 high) - this is the highest point of the Western Tien Shan in Uzbekistan.
The mountains of the Pskem Range are narrow and rocky, steep slopes cut off by deep gorges. Stone screes, cliffs and clusters of large boulders make these mountains impassable.
Chatkal Range
Located in the north-east of Uzbekistan. The height of the Chatkal Range ranges from 3,500 to 4,500 meters. It is a watershed of the Chirchik and Aharangan rivers and others. The ridge stretches for almost 200 kilometers, has numerous spurs into which deep gorges run.
Roads connecting Tashkent with the Akhangaran and Ferghana Valley are laid through the passes of the ridge. Within Uzbekistan, the highest peak here is Karakush (3864 meters). Kyzylnur (3533 meters) and Big Chimgan follow it. The latter was especially popular among Soviet tourists.
Chimgan
Chimgan tourism and recreation area is the most popular and famous all over the world. This is one of the most beautiful places in Uzbekistan. The mountains are called Chimgan or "Chim En", translated as "soft green grass." Chimgan is located just 85 kilometers from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
Chimgan hills belong to the Chatkal ridge. The highest peak is Big Chimgan (3309). In Soviet times, Chimgan was a tourist center, a lot of songs composed thanks to festivals of the author’s song were composed of local peaks. The Chimgan Alpiniad was also held here, where athletes from all over the country gathered.
Gissaro Alai
On the territory of Uzbekistan are only the western spurs of the Gissar-Alai mountain system. This is the Gissar, Turkestan and Zarafshan ranges.
Gissar Range
The highest among the spurs of the mountain system is the Hissar Range. Here, where the Tupalangdarya River begins, the highest mountain in Uzbekistan is located. Its Soviet name is the peak of the name of the 22nd Congress of the CPSU (4688 meters).
Here are located: Severtsov Glacier, 2.3 kilometers long and slightly smaller Batyrbai Glacier. The most famous passes of the Hissar Range: Mura (height 3799 meters) and Anzob (3379). In the south, the ridge passes into the Gissar valley, densely populated. Since there is a lot of rainfall, the slopes of the ridge are rich in vegetation
.Turkestan Range
Turkestan Range - a powerful mountain range with heights of 5000-5500 meters. It has steep and strongly dissected slopes. The southern branch of the ridge in the west goes down and turns into a mountain plateau, and completely disappears near the city of Samarkand. The Turkestan ridge branches into two ranges - Malguzar and Chumkartau. The Chumkartau Range separates the river basins Zarafshan and Sanzar. Malguzar has heights of 900-2600 meters and stretches from the Guralash Pass to the Sanzar River. The narrowest part of the valley of the Sanzar River is called the Tamerlane Gate, here the road passes to Samarkand.
Zarafshan ridge
Another ridge in the mountains of Uzbekistan. A photo of him shows that the Zarafshan ridge is narrow with steep and rocky slopes.
Its peaked peaks are covered with snow, there are about 560 glaciers here. Separates the basins of the Zarafshan and Kashkadarya rivers. The highest mountain is Chimtarga (5489 meters), and the average height is 4100.
Nurata mountains
Nurata mountains (Nuratau) are low, their marks range from 1000 to 1500 meters. They consist of two ridges separated by intermountain basins. Located on the border with the Kyzylkum desert.
The highest mountain is Hayatbashi (2169 meters). In 1975, the Nuratinsky Reserve was organized here.
Hazrati Sultan Mountains
This is the northernmost and largest spur, which is a continuation of the Gissar Range. Separates the basins of the Aksu and Tupalangdarya rivers.
There are several “four thousandths” here: Khazarkhan (4496 meters), Hadzhipiryakh (4424 meters), Harbatag (4395), Khoji-Karshovar (4304), Zaran (4299), Gava (4145).
Yakkabag and Baysun mountains and Kugitangtau
The Yakkabag ridge has heights from 3500 to 3700, located in the western part of the Gissar Range. These mountains are separated by deep gorges and valleys. To the east is the Baysun Range (Baysuntau) with the highest point of 4424 meters. Next to it are the Kugitangtau mountains, separated by a gorge called the Iron Gate, where the Sherabad River flows. The Kugitangtau mountains are already entering the territory of Turkmenistan near the Amu Darya River. The heights fluctuate around the mark of 2100 meters, and the highest point is 3137. These low mountains stretch between the rivers Surkhan and Kashkandarya. Soft rocks were washed away by water for many centuries, so there are many karst caves. It is here that the largest karst cavities of Uzbekistan are located, with a length of moves of up to 4 kilometers.
Mountains Surkhantau
Surkhantau mountains stretch east of Baisuntau. Their highest point is 3,722 meters. In the eastern direction, the heights decrease and gradually pass into the plain, the valley of the Surkhandarya River. Here is the deepest cave in Asia - Boy-Bulok (depth - 1415 meters).
Climate
The local climate is typical for Central Asia. Since there is a lot of sun, the climate is arid and sharply continental. Mountains stand in the way of air masses, creating a certain circulation of them, there is a lot of precipitation in the form of snow. White caps melt, creating water currents that give rise to rivers and nourish groundwater. In the cold season, air masses from the Arctic come here, bringing cold and clear weather. Winds blowing from temperate latitudes bring rainy, damp weather. But tropical air masses bring the heat and dryness of the southern deserts.
Tourism
In Uzbekistan, the mountains are very beautiful and especially loved by tourists. Here a specific climate, which has a beneficial effect on health, has healing mineral springs, various monuments of nature and history and, of course, unique beauty. Rest in the mountains of Uzbekistan is useful not only for adults, but also for children, summer health camps are organized here. Currently, not only climbers and climbers come, but also lovers of winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding. The climate in the mountains is quite warm, the temperature here in winter rarely drops below -20 degrees, so the snow here is mostly mild and ideal for skiing.