ALTAI REGION

Altai mountains in the Altain region where Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan meet

Altai (also spelled Altay) is a general name used to describe a group of Turkic peoples living in the region o the Altai mountains in southern Siberia in the Altai Republic. The Altai Region (480 kilometers south of Novosbirisk) is a mountainous area in central Asia where Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan and China all come together. Situated between the Gobi Desert and the Siberian Plain, it is regarded as the homeland of the of the Mongolians, Turks, Koreans, Hungarians and Parzyrks (famous well-preserved 4,000-year-old Parzyrk mummies have been found here). Ural-Altaic languages are named after the region. Ancient petroglyphs found in the area are believed to have been made the ancestors of the Altai.

The Altai (also spelled Altay) region is one of the wildest and most interesting parts of southern Russia. It is a varied region with forest, steppes, wild river, lakes, deserts, snow capped mountain and abundant wildlife. On windward sides of the mountains are some of the wettest places in Mongolia, with glaciers, streams and numerous lakes. On the leeward side are some the driest areas. The most important rivers are the Biya, Katun, Bukhtarma, Kondoma, Ursul, Charysh, Kan, Sema, and Mayma. In lowland areas where the soils are accommodating there is some farmland. Otherwise most of the landscape comprised of steppes and meadows, some of which are used for grazing animals.

Natural vegetation in the region includes steppe grasses, shrubs and bushes and light forests of birch, fir, aspen, cherry, spruce, and pines, with many clearings in the forest. These forest merge with a modified taiga. Among the animals are hare, mountain sheep, several species of deer, bobac, East European woodchucks, lynx, polecat, snow leopard, wolves, bears, Argali sheep, Siberian ibex, mountains goats and deer. Bird species include pheasant, ptarmigan, goose, partridge, Altai snowcock, owls, snipe and jay, In the streams and rivers are trout, grayling and the herring-like sig.

Altai People

The Altai people (or Altaians) are a group of indigenous Turkic-speaking ethnic communities primarily residing in the Altai Republic of southern Siberia, Russia. Numbering around 70,000, they consist of several related tribes (such as the Altai-kiji, Telengit, and Tubalar) and are deeply connected to the natural landscape of the Altai Mountains.

Altai People in 1911

Also known as the Altai, the Altaians, the Altai Turks and the Kizhi, the Altai People hail from a mountainous region that stretches into Mongolia and Kazakhstan and is regarded as homeland of all Turkic people and people which have spoken Altaic languages which includes Mongols, Mongolians, Kazakhs, Koreans and a host of other people.

The Altai people comprise several Turkic-speaking tribes living in the Altai and Kuznetsk Alatau mountains. Several collective terms have been applied to the overall group, including "Oirot," which was used in tsarist times. The Altais first came into contact with Russians in the eighteenth century, when colonization of the region began. Some conversion to Christianity occurred in the nineteenth century, but substantial numbers of Altais returned to their previous Mongolian Lamaism in the early twentieth century, as part of a general movement against Russian domination. In the post-Soviet era, most of the republic's population is Orthodox Christian. [Source: Library of Congress, July 1996 *]

There are about 70,000 Altai in Altai republic in Siberia near the Mongolian and Kazakhstan borders, forming 28 percent of the population there. Among the Altai groups are the Chelkan, Kumandin, Telengit, Teles, Telut and Tubalar. Most Altai are bilingual in their native Turkic tongue and Russian.

Altai Mountains

Altai Mountains (near the Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan border) stretch for 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) across southwestern Mongolia from Siberia to the Gobi Desert. The mountains are of moderate height. There are several peaks over 4,500 meters. Those that are higher than 3,000 meters are snowcapped throughout the year. The region is rich in lakes and streams. The Ob, Irtysh and Yenisei all have their sources in the Altai mountains. The Altai people live mainly in the broad plateaus, steppes and valleys of the ranges, where water is plentiful. The Altai complex of mountain ranges embraces the water divide mountains for all of Asia: the South Altai, the Inner Altai and the east Altai. The Mongolian Altai is connected to this mountain complex, rising to the southeast of the Siberian Altai region. The highest peak, 4506-meter-high Mt. Belukha, is in Russia near the Kazakhstan border.

The Altai contains the highest mountains in Siberia, separated by deep valley rivers, with glaciers, passes, waterfalls, springs, lakes According to a report submitted to UNESCO: The Altai Mountains are located at the junction of Central Asia and Siberia. The Altai has many summits around or even exceeding 4000 meters above sea level and many peaks capped with eternal snow. Towards the southeast, the Mongol Altai Mountain Range gets smaller and transitions into the Govi-Altai mountain range. In the Chinese and Kazakh parts of the Altai, the slopes in the montane and sub-alpine belts are covered in forests, whereas the Mongolian Altai has a much drier climate. The high ridges of the Altai descend to large basins and dry steppes, that extend eastward across vast areas dominated by great inland seas in ancient times.” [Source: Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO]

Mongol Altai Tavan Bogd Mountain in Mongolia in the Altai mountains

There are some trekking and hiking opportunities around ice-covered Mt. Belukha and 4173-meter-high Mt. Aktru. The treks in the 5-day to 2-week range generally begin at Tyungar (300 miles from Gorno-Altaisk on a daily bus). Destinations include Turkic stone sculptures, petroglyphs, Lake Kucherla, Kara-Tyurek Pass, Lake Akkem, Akkem Glacier, and Kiziyak Pass. Around the lakes there are some mountaineer huts where hikers and trekkers can stay.

Ukok Plateau (southwest Altai Republic) is a bleak area near where Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan all come together and is where many of the important Pazyrk tombs were discovered. The climate here is ideal for preserving the bodies in the tombs. Some of the mummified remains and artifacts are now in the Hermitage. It is difficult get to. Many of the archeologist who work rely on helicopters.

Golden Mountains of Altai

Golden Mountains of Altai were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. According to UNESCO: “The Altai mountains in southern Siberia form the major mountain range in the western Siberia biogeographic region and provide the source of its greatest rivers – the Ob and the Irtysh. Three separate areas are inscribed: Altaysky Zapovednik and a buffer zone around Lake Teletskoye; Katunsky Zapovednik and a buffer zone around Mount Belukha; and the Ukok Quiet Zone on the Ukok plateau. The total area covers 1,611,457 hectares. The region represents the most complete sequence of altitudinal vegetation zones in central Siberia, from steppe, forest-steppe, mixed forest, subalpine vegetation to alpine vegetation. The site is also an important habitat for endangered animal species such as the snow leopard. [Source: UNESCO]

The Altai Mountains can be called "golden" both for untold wealth hidden in the ground and unearthed in archaeological sites and for their abundance of natural beauty, glowing golden color at sunset and sunrise. The word "Altai" comes from the Mongolian word "Altyn" means "gold". The name for the Altai mountain range Altyn-Tu means "gold mountain."

The Altai Mountains are the highest mountains of Siberia. For centuries the harsh Altai region has attracted travelers, scientists, hikers, climbers, artists, photographers, as well as pilgrims, because many local mountains are local shrines. The mountains themselves have been shaped the forces of nature: heat and frost, snow and rain, wind and flowing water, which have is pulverized and carried away the top layers of rock and soil, revealing dense crystalline rocks — granite, porphyry and marble — underneath. In many places deep cracks have formed and pieces of rock have fallen off. On the slopes of the mountains are huge jumble of rock large pieces and smaller debris.

Altai Area Climate

Belukha, the highest Altai mountain

The climate is continental with extremes in temperatures between the summer and the winter. The mountains help to mitigate the extremes to some extent by causing a winter temperature inversion that produces an island of winter temperatures that are warmer than those in the Siberian taiga to the north and the Central Asian and Mongolian steppes to south and east. Even so temperatures drop as low as -48 degrees C in the winter. The mountains are a gathering point for precipitation in a region that otherwise is dry. The most rain falls in July and August, with another smaller period of rain in late autumn. The western Altai receives around 50 centimeters of precipitation a year. The eastern Altai receives less: around 40 centimeters a year

During the winter this 7500-foot-high region is hit by such nasty winds the "grass stands free of snow." Ufok means "the end of everything" and people that live in this region believe it is a step on the way to heaven. People are not allowed to shout out of fear that it might offend the spirit who they believe reside are closeby. [Source: Natalya Polosmak, National Geographic October 1994]

The summer tourist season lasts from May to October. The average temperature is + 25°C in the summer. The contrast of temperatures in the summer can from 30°C during the day, to +5°C at night. The peak winter season falls on New Year's holidays and Christmas. Temperatures in the winter range from –10°C to −30°C. The weather depends on the area: the mildest climate is in the Chemal region, the driest and harshest is close to the border with Mongolia.

Earliest Human History of the Altai Region

One of Russia's biggest peaks — 4,506-meter-high Belukha mountain — is in the Altai mountains. It has many caves. In some of them traces of Paleolithic people have been discovered. Evidence of humans dating to the Lower Paleolithic Period 150,000 years ago has been found in the Ulalinskoy area precincts of the capital of the Altai Republic, Gorno-Altaysk. In the Golden Mountains of the Altai there numerous prehistoric sites, some with petroglyphs, burial mounds, and stone sculptures.

Denisovans, an extinct group of hominins who coexisted with the Neanderthals and modern humans around 30,000 to 50,000 years ago, are named after Denisova Cave in the Altai region. Not much is known about them other than what can be gleaned from their DNA and a few rare fossils. Scientists first learned of their existence from an incomplete finger bone and two molars discovered in the Denisova Cave, near where Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and Russia all come together. The finger bone and two molars have been dated by some 80,000 years ago, but generally placed to in the 30,000 to 50,000 year old range.

Denisovans and Neanderthals appear to have the same common ancestor, but both are genetically distinct from one another. Neanderthal and Denisovan are believed to have split apart between 400,000 to 500,000 years ago. Humans and Neanderthals divided into separate groups as far back as 765,000 years ago. Denisovans and Neanderthals ultimately disappeared – perhaps because their lineages were absorbed by modern humans. Evidence of Neanderthals has also been Denisova Cave

See Separate Article DENISOVANS factsanddetails.com

The indigenous population of the present-day Altai Region — the Altai — moved to Altai in ancient times from the upper Yenisei, their close relatives are Kyrgyz in Central Asia. Origins of the Kyrgyz. The forefathers of the modern Kyrgyz and Altai lived on the upper reaches of the Yenisei River in present-day Siberia. The origin of these people is still a matter of some debate. Based on common burial customs, animist traditions and herding practices, it is believed that they originated in Siberia. Kyrgyz is one of the oldest ethnic names in Asia. It was first recorded in the 2nd century B.C. in the "40 girls" legend of 40 original clan mothers.

The Kyrgyz and Altai are believed to have descended from nomadic tribes, the "Yenisey Kyrgyz," from the Yenisei River area in central Siberia. Their homeland is an Ireland-size chunk of land, covered by steppe and mountains, in the upper Yenisei River Basin near present-day Krasnoyarsk, They occupied this region between the 6th and 12th centuries, and are believed to have begun speaking a Turkic language around the 9th century.

The "Yenisey Kyrgyz” created an empire that stretched across Trans-Siberian and Central Asia from Kazakhstan to Lake Baikal from the 6th to the 13th century. They established ties with the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907) in China and were in the 8th century Orkhan inscription. In 840, the Kyrgyz defeated the Uighar tribes and occupied their lands in what is now northwestern Mongolia. The Kyrgyz in turn were driven off these lands by the Khitan the 10th century.

Altai Nature Reserve

Altai State Nature Reserve was established in 1932 for the protection of the Altai region’s taiga and alpine tundra ecosystems in the northeastern part of the Altai Mountains. Covering an area of 8,712 square kilometers (3,364 square mile, it is one of largest reserve in Russia and is part of the "Golden Mountains of Altai" UNESCO World Heritage List. In the reserve there are about 1500 species of plants, of which 22 are listed as endangered, and 60 rare and endangered animal species, representing about 52 percent of all protected animal species in the Altai Republic. The reserve is famous for its beautiful lakes, particularly Lake Teletskoye Lake and Lake Karakol. Also on the territory of the reserve there are more than 150 waterfalls, most of them unreachable or at least difficult to reach. There are virtually no roads in the reserve, only tracks and trails, which one should not explore without a guide. Visiting the reserve requires a permit.

Altai State Reserve is one of the first places in Russia to be declared a biodiversity reserve. Located in the northeastern part of the Altai Republic in the Turachakskiy and Ulagan areas, it embraces mountains, coniferous forests, alpine meadows, alpine tundra, rushing rivers and lakes. There are 1275 lakes. All of them are small, except 30-kilometer-long Teletskoye, one of the largest lakes in South Siberia. The reserve stretches 230 kilometers into the high mountains to the southeast of the lake and has an average width of 35 kilometers. The area under protection includes Teletskoye Lake and taiga. Among the critically endangered birds and animals protected here are sable, snow leopard, argali, demoiselle, saker falcon, the black vulture and osprey. Elk (moose) and deer are also found here.

Recognized as an area of high biodiversity and isolation from human intrusion and included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, the Altai Biosphere Reserve has an elongated shape running from the northeast to southwest along the Teletskoye basin and into the high interior. Elevations rise to 3,500 meters (11,500 feet). Lake Teletskoye is in the upper northwest end of the reserve. The Chulyshman River runs into the lake, with the Chulyshman valley forming part of the western border of the Altai Reserve. Most of the reserve is the plains and alpine ridges of the Chulyshman Highlands. Over 20 percent of the territory is rock, scree and gravel.

The Altai is located in the Sayan montane conifer forests ecoregion. This ecoregion is characterized by mountains dissected by river valleys, high levels of precipitation, and high biodiversity. Flora is generally dependent on the elevation and terrain, with forest having three main subzones based on altitude: light needle-leaf sparse taiga, dark needle-leaf taiga, and dark taiga. The Altai reserve has been for the most part undisturbed by human activity, and is one of the few remaining pristine areas of this ecoregion. It covers 9.4 percent of the entire Republic of Altai, and there are no roads in the reserve.

Altay Region of Kazakhstan

Oskemen (300 kilometers southeast of Semey) is the jumping off point for trips to the Altay Region in Kazakhstan. It is home to 320,000 people and where you have to wait for permits to visit the Altay region, which can up to 10 days. Situated on the Ulba and Irtysh Rivers, it is a relatively prosperous town with revenues generated by the mining of copper, lead, silver and zinc in the area. Worth checking out are the old buildings around Kirova Park, the Ethnographic Museum and History Museum.

Destinations in Altay Mountains in Kazakhstan include Rachamanov’s Springs, a wilderness retreat run by a mining company, and Markakol Nature Reserve, centered around 24-mile-long Lake Markakol Some places in the Altay region require a special permit, which may about 10 days to get in the police office in Oskemen.. The southwestern tip of the Altay territory is located in East of Kazakhstan. Based on topographic features the Kazakh Altay, it is divided into three regions — the Southern Altay, Rudny Altay and Kalba Range.

Bukhtarma about 100 kilometers away from Oskemen ) is a popular tourism destination in East Kazakhstan, known for its beautiful landscapes and picturesque mountains, rivers and lakes. Many holiday villages and resort bases are situated on the shores of Bukhtarma reservoir, which was created during the construction of Bukhtarma Hydro-Electric power station and is one of the largest artificial water reservoirs of the world. The Left (South) shore of Bukhtarma reservoir is convenient for beach tourism and the right (North) shore is good for active holidays

Mongol Altai

The Highlands of Mongol Altai was nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014. According to a report submitted to UNESCO: “The Mongolian Altai Mountains constitute a major and central part of the Altai mountain range located at the junction of Central Asia and Siberia. The Mongol Altai has many summits around or even exceeding 4000 meters above sea level and stretches for some 900 kilometers from the north-western part of the country to the south, through the territories of Bayan-Ulgii and Khovd provinces. Over 20 peaks are capped with eternal snow in the Mongol Altai Mountain Range. These include Altai Tavan Bogd, the highest peak, Munkh Khairkhan, Sutai Khairkhan and Tsambagarav khairkhan. Towards the southeast, the Mongol Altai Mountain Range gets smaller and transitions into the Govi-Altai mountain range. In the Chinese and Kazakh parts of the Altai, the slopes in the montane and sub-alpine belts are covered in forests, whereas the Mongolian Altai has a much drier climate. The high ridges of the Altai descend to large basins and dry steppes, that extend eastward across vast areas dominated by great inland seas in ancient times.” [Source: Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO]

One of the proposed three serial property areas, the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park covers some 636,200 hectares, located in the north-western tip of Mongolia along the border with China and Russia. The heart of Altai Tavan Bogd consists of five sister peaks which are the highest mountain peaks in Mongolia and which give the park its name. The national park includes the beautiful ancient lakes of Khoton, Khurgan, and Dayan and is home to a wide range of species such as the argali sheep, ibex, red deer, snow cocks, and golden eagles. The National Park embodies the special attributes of high mountains, including but not limited to icy crystal rivers, vast mountain valleys and high altitude steppe landscapes of breath-taking beauty.

The second proposed component, Siilkhem mountain National Park, is located along Mongolian-Russian border and covers the Mongolian part of the Siilkhem Mountains (Sailughem in Russian language), which stretch northeast from the Altai Tavan Bogd and Ukok plateaus towards the western extremity of the Sayan Mountains. Their average elevation is 2,500 to 2,750 meters. The snow-line runs at 2,000 meters on the northern side and at 2,400 meters on the southern side and above it the rugged peaks tower up some 3,000 meters more. The Siilkhem mountain National Park consists of two distinct parts "A" and "B". Part "A" of the national park covers most northern distribution range of Altai Argali while Part "B" is one of most the important prime habitat of snow leopard.

China Altay

China Altay was nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010. According to a report submitted to UNESCO: The Altay Mountains extend across China, Kazakstan, Mongolia and Russia in a NW-SE direction. The whole length is 1650 kilometers and the width is about 130-200 kilometers, with an elevation of 1000-3000 meters. The altitude of the highest Youyi Peak is 4,374 meters and it is located at the boundary of China, Russia and Mongolia. The China Altay is the south slope of the middle segment which extends about 500 kilometers and takes up one third of the total length of the Altay Mountains. Two great rivers originate in the China Altay. One of them is the Ergis River and it is the headstream of the international Erbi River which flows into the Arctic Ocean. The second one is the Ulungur River which is the second longest land-locked river of Xinjiang, and it is the main run-off of the second largest land-locked lake-Ulungur Lake of Xinjiang.[Source: National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO]

“Two nominated districts both represent the natural geographic character and ecosystem of the south slope of the Altay Mountains, but they can not be replaced by each other. Kanas National Nature Reserve is the largest center of glaciation and the most beautiful scenic region in the Altay Mountains. Two Rivers' Headwaters Nature Reserve is the typical shaped rock granite landforms of Altay mountains, and is also the headstream of Ergis River.

“China Altay possesses a diversity of landscape features, such as sublime glaciers and snow-covered peaks, colorful alpine meadows, grand granitic natural sculptures, dynamic atmospheric conditions, picturesque landscapes of rivers and lakes, and charming nomadic life and folk customs. These features combine to form unique aesthetic values that are second-to-none. The area is a remarkable exemplification for the aesthetic values of integrated natural and human mountainous landscape. These landscapes are of multiple types and are characterized by high qualities, great heterogeneity stunning vistas and rich folk cultures.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: “Encyclopedia of World Cultures: Russia and Eurasia, China”, edited by Paul Friedrich and Norma Diamond (C.K. Hall & Company, Boston); New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Times of London, Lonely Planet Guides, Library of Congress, U.S. government, Compton’s Encyclopedia, The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, Reuters, AP, AFP, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic Monthly, The Economist, Foreign Policy, Wikipedia, BBC, CNN, and various books, websites and other publications.

Last updated July 2026