II.

Physical Geography and Climate

Tall mountains surround Xinjiang on three sides. The Altay Mountains lie on the north, the Kunlun Mountains and the Karokoram Range are on the south, and the Pamirs mountain region is to the west and southwest. The world’s second highest peak, K2 (Mount Godwin Austen), with an elevation of 8,611 m (28,251 ft) lies on the border with Jammu and Kashmīr. The Tian Shan extend from east to west in northern Xinjiang. North and south of the Tian Shan are two great basins—the Tarim Pendi to the south and the Junggar Pendi to the north. Xinjiang’s main settled areas lie along the fringes of these basins. At the eastern end of the Tian Shan is the Turpan Pendi (Turfan Depression), which contains China’s lowest point, with a depth of 154 m (505 ft) below sea level. South of the Turpan Pendi is Lop Nur, an unpopulated salt lake and marsh area that is the site of China’s nuclear-testing facilities. Each great basin has a large desert, the Takla Makan in the south and the Gurbantünggüt in the north, and these are among the driest places on earth. Drainage throughout the region is internal, meaning that almost none of the rivers empty into the sea but evaporate in the deserts or lakes. The largest rivers are the Tarim and the Ili.

Xinjiang’s climate is dry and continental, with warm summers and long, cold winters. North of the Tian Shan in the Junggar Pendi, the city of Ürümqi has an average annual precipitation of only 178 mm (7 in), a January average temperature of -11°C (12°F), and a July average of 25°C (77°F). The area south of the Tian Shan, in the Takla Makan, receives no precipitation in some years. Most precipitation occurs at higher elevations in the mountains and especially on the west- and north-facing slopes. As a result, much of the available moisture is stored in glaciers. As these melt they feed the region’s streams and rivers, providing water for the cities and irrigated agriculture of the basins. Plant life in Xinjiang is limited to hardy shrubs and trees that can endure the dry and cold conditions of the harsh winters; evergreen forests grow in the mountains. Wildlife includes wild horses, camels, and yaks. Diverse species of migratory birds pass through the region.