Altay Mountains

The Altay Mountains stretch across the heart of Asia, joining the Sayan ranges in the northeast and descending towards the Gobi in the southeast. Snow, glaciers and alpine meadows crown their heights, while forests and steppe occupy lower slopes. The mountain country contains the headwaters of great rivers including the Irtysh and Ob, and has long been home to peoples whose livelihoods combined herding, hunting and travel through the valleys.