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Mongolian Plateau

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

The Mongolian Plateau is a massive inland plateau located in East Asia. It is also known as the Altai Plateau. This vast region forms the majority of the area called the Mongol heartland. It is an intermontane plateau, which means it is a highland area surrounded by mountains. The plateau covers a huge amount of territory. It spans the entire country of Mongolia. It also extends into parts of China and Russia.

Fall Nature in Mongolia
Fall Nature in Mongolia

Many distinct mountain ranges define the borders of this plateau. To the west, the Altai Mountains mark the edge. The northern boundaries are formed by the Sayan and Khentii mountains. In the south, you will find the Yin Mountains. The eastern side is bounded by the Greater Hinggan Mountains. These mountains create a natural frame for the plateau. The landscape inside these borders includes both dry steppe regions and the Gobi Desert.

Fall Nature in Mongolia
Fall Nature in Mongolia

The elevation of the plateau varies across its wide surface. Most of the land sits at an average height of 1,500 meters above sea level. There is a significant difference between its highest and lowest points. The lowest point is located in Hulunbuir. The highest point is found in the Altai Mountains. Specifically, the peak of Tavan Bogd reaches 4,090 meters above sea level. This high altitude influences the local weather and the types of life found there.

The ecology of the plateau is quite complex. It consists of varying regions of highland and lowland areas. Many different species of animals rely on these habitats. Common grazing species include yaks and Przewalski's horses. You can also find domesticated sheep, saiga antelope, and Siberian ibex. The Argali is another common animal in these grasslands. Marmots are also found throughout the entire region. The Tarbagan marmot, in particular, keeps large parts of its range within the plateau.

Fall Nature in Mongolia
Fall Nature in Mongolia

Predators play an important role in the plateau's food web. These hunters include the Eurasian lynx and the snow leopard. The Corsac fox is another predator found in the area. Carnivorous birds also hunt across the landscape. You might see the bearded vulture or the saker falcon. The cinereous vulture is another large bird of prey in the region. These animals move between the different ecological zones of the highland and lowland areas.

History shows that many different groups have inhabited and conquered the plateau. These groups arrived in a specific chronological order. The Xiongnu were among the first to live here. They were followed by the Xianbei and the Göktürks. Later, the Tang dynasty and the Liao dynasty held power in the region. The famous Mongol Empire and the Yuan dynasty also ruled the land. Following them were the Northern Yuan and the Qing dynasty. Each of these groups left a mark on the plateau's history.

Today, the plateau faces significant environmental changes. Between 1980 and 2010, the region experienced rising global temperatures. Human activity has also played a major role. For example, people use lake water for mining and agriculture. This has led to a major loss of lake surface area. Qagaan Nurr and XinKai Lake each lost two-thirds of their surface area. Some lakes, such as Huangqihai Lake and Naiman Xihu, dried up completely.

Fall Nature in Mongolia
Fall Nature in Mongolia

While some lakes have disappeared, others have grown. East Juyan Lake and Had Paozi are exceptions to the shrinking trend. However, the overall trend for the region is a loss of water. The total average surface area of lakes has shrunk by 30%. The plateau also deals with a high rate of desertification. This process turns fertile land into desert. These changes show how climate and human needs affect large geographic systems.

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