Khangai


Khangai

(khän`gī`), massive mountain range, W central Republic of Mongolia, extending from east to west for c.500 mi (800 km); rises to c.13,000 ft (3,960 m). Many rivers, notably the Orkhon and the Selenga, rise on the range's wooded slopes.

Khangai

 

an upland region in the central part of the Mongolian People’s Republic, forming part of the main divide between the Arctic Ocean and Central Asia. The Khangai extends approximately 700 km from northwest to southeast and has a maximum width of 200 km. It has average elevations of 2,000–3,000 m and a maximum of 3,905 m at Otkhon-Tengri (Enkh-Taivan). The Khangai is composed primarily of Paleozoic granites, schists, sandstones, siliceous rocks and young basalts. The peaks are predominantly flat, and the slopes are dissected by broad river valleys. The region has deposits of iron ore (at Tamryn-Gol), gold placers, and semiprecious stones. The region has mineral springs. Forbs and grasses cover the dry steppes, while forested areas with larch, pine, birch, and cedar grow on the northern slopes.