Koryak Highlands (Koryak Range) is a mountain system located in the Far East, on the border of Kamchatka and Chukotka. Part of it belongs to the Kamchatka region, and the other part to the Magadan region.
Where is the Koryak Highlands?
As already mentioned, one part of the ridge belongs to the Kamchatka region, and the other part to the Magadan region. The Koryak Highlands is located near the Pacific coast, washed by the Bering Strait in the east and the waters of the northeastern tip of the Sea of Okhotsk in the southwest. The Bering Strait in this region has a narrow shelf, beyond which the depths increase sharply to 3 km. The Sea of Okhotsk in this area, on the contrary, is shallow. The northeastern tip of the mountain system approaches the Anadyr Gulf of the Pacific Ocean, which is also shallow.
Features of relief and geology
Koryak highland consists of small ranges, mountain ranges and mountain ranges. The ridges diverge in different directions from the central part of the highlands. The mountain system is elongated in the direction of the northeast - southwest, has a length of about 1000 km. Its width fluctuates. In different areas, the width can be from 80 to 270 km. The area is half a million square kilometers. The height of the Koryak highland is also different and varies from 600 to 1800 m. The highest is the central part of the mountain system. The highest point of the Koryak Highlands is Ice Mountain (2560 m).
The central (in diameter) part of the Koryak mountain system is represented by peaked mountains with pronounced rockiness and a large amount of talus. Great steepness and concave type of slopes prevail. Gorges are common in the mountains. In total, 7 ridges stand out, the height of which is from 1000 m to 1700 m (depending on the specific ridge).
The eastern and southern coasts are often characterized by the presence of rocky cliffs, steep and high sea terraces, indented by bays of the coast.
Glaciation occurs in the mountains, due to harsh climatic conditions. The total area of glaciers is 205 square kilometers, their lower limit reaches 700-1000 m above sea level, and their length reaches 4000 m.
The highlands are based on formations of the Lower Paleozoic and Mesozoic. At higher elevations, Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic deposits predominate.
The highlands are rich in minerals. Gold placers, brown and hard coal, and sulfur have been found here. There are also gold veins, accumulations of copper, mercury, silver, tin, molybdenum, polymetallic ores. In addition, oil and gas deposits have been found.
Climate
Cold climate prevails in the regionoceanic type. A rather cold summer is typical with frequent cloudy weather, fogs and prolonged rains, sometimes with snow. Winters are not too cold, but windy. The winds of the northern and north-western directions prevail. Sometimes there are thaws. Intensive snow melting begins only in the third decade of May. The amount of precipitation increases from northwest to southeast - from 400 to 700 mm per year. In the north, the boundary of the permanent snow zone is at an altitude of 1400 m, and descends even lower along the gorges.
The duration of the frost-free period in the depths of the mountain system is 90-95 days, and on the coast - 130-145 days.
The main climatic features of the region are as follows:
- Long and rather cold winter, short autumn and spring, rather cold summer.
- The average annual air temperature is below 0° Celsius everywhere.
- Frequent winds in all seasons.
- Small accumulation of snow in open areas due to its constant blowing.
- Presence of permafrost in all areas (with the exception of certain areas).
Hydrology
Koryak Highlands is an important hydrological region. From this area such relatively large rivers as the Great and the Main begin. In size, they are, of course, much inferior to the Trans-Siberian rivers, but on the regional map they are the largest. A feature of all mountain rivers is the formation of icing in their channels, which significantly change the course of the river and deform the channel itself.
Land cover
Soils are formed in harsh climatic conditions. The underlying rock is usually stony-rubbly profiles, on which thin peaty and peat-gley soils are formed. Bare rocky outcrops, accumulations of stones, pebbles, snow, with separate clumps of vegetation are not uncommon. In river valleys there may be floodplain-soddy soils. Sandy-pebble soils are common on the coast.
Vegetation
Predominate treeless spaces covered with tundra or mountain desert. Shrubs are found along the river valleys, and along the slopes - elfin cedar and stone birch. In the beds of mountain rivers, one can find belt-type forests with poplar, shrubs and chosenia. In depressions, sedge-sphagnum bogs are not uncommon.
Thus, the Koryak Highlands is a harsh region with unfavorable climatic conditions for human habitation. However, there are various minerals here, the development of which is not yet feasible due to the remoteness and desertedness of the region.
