| Kokshetau Hills | |
|---|---|
| Көкшетау қыраты | |
 Landscape of the hill area | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Mount Kokshe |
| Elevation | 947 m (3,107 ft) |
| Coordinates | 53°04′48″N70°11′18″E / 53.08000°N 70.18833°E /53.08000; 70.18833 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 400 km (250 mi) E / W |
| Width | 200 km (120 mi) N / S |
| Geography | |
  Kokshetau Hills Location inKazakhstan | |
| Location | Kazakhstan |
| Range coordinates | 53°00′N69°00′E / 53.000°N 69.000°E /53.000; 69.000 |
| Parent range | Kazakh Uplands |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Alpine orogeny |
| Rock age(s) | Devonian andSilurian |
| Rock type | Granite |
TheKokshetau Hills (Kazakh:Көкшетау қыраты;Russian:Кокшетауская возвышенность) is a system of mountains of moderate altitude in theNorth Kazakhstan Region andAkmola Region,Kazakhstan.[1]
The cities ofKokshetau,Shchuchinsk andMakinsk are located in the hill zone, as well as theBurabay resort town.TheBurabay National Park and theKokshetau National Park are the mainprotected areas.[2]
The Kokshetau Hills are a northern subsystem of theKazakh Uplands (Saryarka), limited to the north by theWest Siberian Plain. They are scattered across a vast area, with wide flat spaces in between of river valleys or lake basins. They stretch for about 400 kilometers (250 mi) between theTurgay Basin in the west and theSileti valley in the east, with a width of 200 kilometers (120 mi) from north to south. The individual hills and hill clusters rise abruptly from the plains of theintermontane basins. They are generally rocky or have rocky outcrops at the top and there are bizarrerock formations as well.[2]
The elevations are moderate, the highest point is 947 meters (3,107 ft) highMount Kokshe, also known as Sinyukha, rising in theKokshetau Massif, located in the northeastern part of the Kokshetau Hills.TheZhaksy-Zhalgyztau (highest point 729 meters (2,392 ft)), Imantau (highest point 621 meters (2,037 ft)) and Ayrtau (highest point 523 meters (1,716 ft)), are the main massifs in the western part, among other smaller and lower ones. The Zhilandi Massif (highest point 654 meters (2,146 ft)) and the Zerendin Mountains (highest point 587 meters (1,926 ft)), are located in the central part. 363 meters (1,191 ft) highBukpa Hill rises above Kokshetau town and to the southeast rise theMakina Hills (highest point 516 meters (1,693 ft)).[3]
Numerous rivers originate in the Kokshetau Hills flowing in different directions, such as theKylshakty,Shagalaly,Iman-Burluk,Akan-Burluk,Zhilandi,Zhabai andBoksyk. Many are part of theIshim basin. Also hundreds of lakes are located in the numerous tectonic basins of the hill area. The most well-known lakes are those part of theKokshetau Lakes, a group that includes lakesBurabay,Ulken Shabakty,Kishi Shabakty,Kopa,Zerendi,Shalkar andImantau.[4][3]
The lower slopes of some of the hills are covered with sparse pine forest.Steppe vegetation, including grasses,Artemisia andEphedra, grows on bare hillsides and in rock crevices.Shrubs are found onscree slopes.[1][4]
Media related toKokshetau Hills at Wikimedia Commons