Ural Mountains - Geography and Topography

Geography and Topography

The Ural Mountains extend about 2,500 km (1,600 mi) from the Kara Sea to the Kazakh Steppe along the northern border of Kazakhstan. Vaygach Island and the island of Novaya Zemlya form a further continuation of the chain on the north. Geographically this range marks the northern part of the border between the continents of Europe and Asia. Its highest peak is Mount Narodnaya, approximately 1,895 m (6,217 ft) in elevation.

By topography and other natural features, Ural is divided, from north to south, into the Polar (or Arctic), Nether-Polar (or Sub-Arctic), Northern, Central and Southern parts. The Polar Ural extends for about 385 kilometers (239 mi) from the Mount Konstantinov Kamen in the north to the Khulga River in the south; it has an area of about 25,000 km2 (6.0 cu mi) and a strongly dissected relief. The maximum height is 1,499 m (4,918 ft) at the Payer Mountain and the average height is 1,000 to 1,100 m (3,300 to 3,600 ft). The mountains of the Polar Ural have exposed rock with sharp ridges though flattened or rounded tops are also found.

The Nether-Polar Ural is wider, up to 150 km (93 mi) and higher than the Polar Ural, with the highest peaks of the 1,895 m (6,217 ft) Mount Narodnaya, the 1,878 m (6,161 ft) Mount Karpinsky (Urals)) and the 1,662 m (5,453 ft) Manaraga). It extends for more than 225 km (140 mi) south to the Shchugor River. Its many ridges have sawtooth shape and are dissected by river valleys. Both Polar and Nether-Polar Urals are typically Alpine; they bear traces of Pleistocene glaciation, along with permafrost and extensive modern glaciation, that includes 143 extant glaciers.

The Northern Ural consists of a series of parallel ridges with the height up to 1,000–1,200 m (3,300–3,900 ft) and longitudinal depressions. They are elongated from north to south and stretch for about 560 km (350 mi) from the Usa River. Most of the tops are flattened, but those of the highest mountains, such as Telposiz, 1,617 m (5,305 ft) and Konzhakovsky Stone, 1,569 m (5,148 ft) have dissected topography. Intensive weathering has produced vast areas of eroded stones on the mountain slopes and summits of the northern areas.

The Central Ural is the lowest part of Urals, with the highest mountain at 994 m (3,261 ft) (Basegi) and smooth mountain tops; it extends south from the Ufa River.

The relief of Southern Ural is more complex, with numerous valleys and parallel ridges directed south-west and meridionally. Its maximum height is the 1,640 m (5,380 ft) Mount Yamantau) and the widths reaches 250 km (160 mi). Other notable peaks lie along the Iremel mountain ridge (Bolshoy Iremel and Maly Iremel). The Southern Ural extends some 550 km (340 mi) up to the sharp westward bend of the Ural River and terminates in the wide Mughalzhar Hills.