Dabie Mountains | |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 1,774 m (5,820 ft) |
Coordinates | 31°15′N 115°00′E / 31.250°N 115.000°ECoordinates: 31°15′N 115°00′E / 31.250°N 115.000°E |
Geography | |
Location | China |
The Dabie Mountains (Chinese: 大别山; pinyin: Dàbié Shān) are a major mountain range located in central China. Running northwest-to-southeast, they form the main watershed between the Huai and Yangtze rivers. The range also marks the boundary between Hubei Province and its neighbors of Henan (to the north) and Anhui (to the east).
The western part of Dabie Mountains has a low elevation of only 1,000–1,300 feet (300–400 meters), though there are a few peaks rising to 3,000 feet (900 meters). The eastern part is higher, averaging more than 3,300 feet (1,000 meters). The highest peak is Mount Tianzhu at 5,820 feet (1,774 meters), with several others topping 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) including the 1,729.13 metres (5,673.0 ft) high Tiantangzhai.
The range is heavily forested (about 85% coverage) and yields valuable bamboo as well as oak, particularly cork oak, making it China's chief cork-producing area. The region is very poor, and subsistence agriculture is the heart of its economy with rice and tea predominating.
The main transportation route across the higher range is from Macheng in Hubei to Huangchuan in Hunan, through the Huai River valley. The main rail and road crossings go north from Wuhan, through the lower elevations.
In 2009, the high-speed Hewu Passenger Railway opened, connecting Hefei (capital of Anhui) with Wuhan (capital of Hubei) along a short direct route. It uses a number of tunnels when crossing the Dabie range.