Kunlun Mountains Region

Abstract

Towering in northwest boundary of the Tibetan Plateau and south of the Tarim and Qaidam basins, the Kunlun Mountain range extends from the Pamir Plateau southeastward, and then nearly eastward, to northwestern Sichuan Province. It totals about 2,500 km, 100 km longer than the Himalayas, and is well known as the ”Backbone of Asia”. In terms of tectonic properties and landforms, the Kunlun Mountain range may be divided into three sections. To the west of Mt. Qong Muztag is the West Kunlun; to the east of Kunlun Pass is the East Kunlun; and between them is the Middle Kunlun. This book involves only the West and Middle Kunlun Mountains (Figure 17-1)>.