Ukok Plateau

Ukok Plateau is a remote and pristine grasslands area located in the heart of southwestern Siberia, the Altai Mountains region of Russia near the borders with China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The plateau is recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site entitled Golden Mountains of Altai as an important environmental treasure. It provides a habitat for many of the world's endangered species including one of its least studied predatory animals: the snow leopard. Other endangered species protected there include the argali mountain sheep, the steppe eagle, and the black stork. Currently the Ukok Plateau is being threatened by plans for a gas pipeline between China and Russia. It is also being threatened by a proposal to build a road through it as well as overuse of the steppe by ranchers.

The Mongolian word "uheg" - literally means "elongated cabinet", "box"; "Massive mountain" or big hill with a flat top. According to the oral testimony of S. Umurzakova "Ukok" in Kyrgyz used to refer to flat-topped mountains, ie plateaus.

The Ukok Plateau is the high-mountainous plain located between South-Altai and Sailugem and ridges at a height of 2,200–2,500 m (7,200–8,200 ft) above sea level. There are 500–600 m (1,600–2,000 ft) high mountain peaks that tower above the plateau. The highest peak on the plateau is the mountain knot of Tavan-Bogdo-Ula (Five Sacred Peaks) where the highest mountain is Khüiten Peak that reaches 4,374 m (14,350 ft) above sea level. This is the second highest peak in Siberia after Belukha Mountain. The present-day eastern Altai-Sayan region areas of Ukok-Sailiugem could be considered the closest analogy to the ancient mammoth steppe environment.

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