Yablonoi Mountains

Topographical illustration of Russia showing the Yablonoi mountains among other ranges.

The Yablonoi Mountains or Yablonovy Mountains (Яблоновый хребет in Russian) is a mountain range in Siberia. It is in Transbaikal (mainly in Chita Oblast) in Russia.

The range runs north-east from Mongolia, passing just to the east of Lake Baikal. The Yablonoi Mountains run for about 1600 kilometres before joining with the Stanovoi Range. The range forms the dividing line between the rivers that empty into the Arctic Ocean and those that empty into the Pacific. The range is not particularly tall or large, being long and thin. The tallest peaks are 'Bolshoy Sokhondo' at 2505м and 'Maly Sokhondo' at 2404м above sea level.^[1] It is formed with granites, crystalline slates, and sandstones. The slopes of the Yablonoviy Range are covered with larch and occasional fir and silver fir taiga. Pine forests are quite common on the southern slopes of the range. Peaks higher than 1,200 - 1,400 metres are covered with mountainous tundra vegetation.

The isolated range is sparsely inhabited with most settlements engaged in mining. The area is especially rich in tin. The Trans-Siberian Railroad runs parallel to the range before going through a tunnel to bypass the heights. The Trans-Siberian Railroad passes the mountains at Chita.^[2]

The Trans-Siberian Railroad

References

Coordinates: 52°03′N 113°35′E / 52.050°N 113.583°E / 52.050; 113.583