Geladandong
Encyclopedia
Geladaindong Peak is a snow-covered mountain (or massif
) located in southwestern Qinghai
province of China
near the border of Tibet
. It is the tallest mountain in the Tanggula Mountain Range
of the Tibetan Plateau
with an elevation of 6621 metres (21,722 ft) above sea level
. The source of the Yangtze River
, begins with glacier
s on its surface.
The mountain's name is Geladaindong in the Tibetan language
. The name in Chinese
is 各拉丹东 (pinyin: Gèlādāndōng) or 各拉丹东峰 (pinyin: Gèlādāndōng Fēng; literally "Geladandong Peak").
of Haixi Prefecture
, in the middle section of Tanggula Shan (the Tanggula Mountain Range).
The Geladaindong Peak is encircled by over twenty high peaks exceeding 6,000 meters in height. It is approximately 50 km long from north to south and approximately 20 km wide from west to east, covering an area of approximately 670 square kilometers (260 mi²) with ice and snow, engulfed by over 40 glaciers. This area is directly across the border from Amdo County
, Nagqu Prefecture
, Tibet Autonomous Region
.
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway crosses the Tanggula Mountain Range around 100 km to the east of Geladaindong Peak.
, Asiatic wild ass
, snow leopard
, and alpine snowcock
.
In 1997 an American team climbed a new route up the northeast face (55–60°). The team consisted of William N. Rom M.D., Dan Luchtel PhD, and Mark Newcomb. Mark Newcomb also pioneered a face solo route on the same expedition. Mark Newcomb was a guide with Exum Guides from Grand Teton National Park
.
Although a dangerous peak to climb, Geladaindong is popular among Chinese mountain climbers
. In 1994, the Mountaineering Association of Peking University
(MAPKU) became the first Chinese climbing team to reach the summit of Geladaindong.
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
) located in southwestern Qinghai
Qinghai
Qinghai ; Oirat Mongolian: ; ; Salar:) is a province of the People's Republic of China, named after Qinghai Lake...
province of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
near the border of Tibet
Tibet Autonomous Region
The Tibet Autonomous Region , Tibet or Xizang for short, also called the Xizang Autonomous Region is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China , created in 1965....
. It is the tallest mountain in the Tanggula Mountain Range
Tanggula Mountains
Tanggula Mountains Shanmai) are a mountain range in the central part of the Tibetan Plateau. Administratvely, the western part of the range is in Nagqu Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region; the highest, central part, in the border area of Nagqu Prefecture and Tanggula Town of the Qinghai...
of the Tibetan Plateau
Tibetan Plateau
The Tibetan Plateau , also known as the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau is a vast, elevated plateau in Central Asia covering most of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai, in addition to smaller portions of western Sichuan, southwestern Gansu, and northern Yunnan in Western China and Ladakh in...
with an elevation of 6621 metres (21,722 ft) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. The source of the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
, begins with glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s on its surface.
The mountain's name is Geladaindong in the Tibetan language
Tibetan language
The Tibetan languages are a cluster of mutually-unintelligible Tibeto-Burman languages spoken primarily by Tibetan peoples who live across a wide area of eastern Central Asia bordering the Indian subcontinent, including the Tibetan Plateau and the northern Indian subcontinent in Baltistan, Ladakh,...
. The name in Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
is 各拉丹东 (pinyin: Gèlādāndōng) or 各拉丹东峰 (pinyin: Gèlādāndōng Fēng; literally "Geladandong Peak").
Location
Geladaindong is located in the administrative unit known as Tanggula Town: an exclaveEnclave and exclave
In political geography, an enclave is a territory whose geographical boundaries lie entirely within the boundaries of another territory.An exclave, on the other hand, is a territory legally or politically attached to another territory with which it is not physically contiguous.These are two...
of Haixi Prefecture
Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture in northern Qinghai province of Western China. It has an area of and its capital is Delingha...
, in the middle section of Tanggula Shan (the Tanggula Mountain Range).
The Geladaindong Peak is encircled by over twenty high peaks exceeding 6,000 meters in height. It is approximately 50 km long from north to south and approximately 20 km wide from west to east, covering an area of approximately 670 square kilometers (260 mi²) with ice and snow, engulfed by over 40 glaciers. This area is directly across the border from Amdo County
Amdo County
Amdo County. is a small county within the Nagchu Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region.Its capital is Pagnag, located at 32°15'50" North, 91°40'50" East. Pagnag has a station on the new railway from Golmud to Lhasa. There is a major rail depot 3 km west of the town....
, Nagqu Prefecture
Nagqu Prefecture
Nagqu Prefecture ; ; Wylie: Nag-chu Sa-khul; simplified Chinese: 那曲地区; pinyin: Nàqū Dìqū) is the largest prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Nagqu has a total area of 450,537 km²...
, Tibet Autonomous Region
Tibet Autonomous Region
The Tibet Autonomous Region , Tibet or Xizang for short, also called the Xizang Autonomous Region is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China , created in 1965....
.
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway crosses the Tanggula Mountain Range around 100 km to the east of Geladaindong Peak.
Climate
Due to the area's arid climate, its annual precipitation is only 200 mm. In the high-altitude area of over 5000 meters, however, there exists violent local air circulation and its yearly precipitation is several hundred mm more than that in the foothill area. Thus, snow and hailstones frequently fall, presenting conditions for the development of glaciers. The average temperature is −5 °C, and the hottest months are from June to August with a temperature of over 20°C, while the coldest month is January, with a temperature of −18 °C. In the high-altitude area of over 5000 m, it remains cold all year round, the lowest temperature being less than −30 °C.Wildlife
The mountain serves as a shelter for more than twenty kinds of wild animals, including the white-lipped deerThorold's Deer
Thorold's deer is a threatened species of deer found in grassland, shrubland and forest at high altitudes in the eastern Tibetan Plateau...
, Asiatic wild ass
Wild ass
Wild ass can refer to:*African Wild Ass*Kiang *Onager *Yukon Wild Horse is sometimes called the Yukon Wild Ass....
, snow leopard
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
, and alpine snowcock
Snowcock
The snowcocks are a group of bird species in the genus Tetraogallus of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are ground-nesting birds which breed in the mountain ranges of southern Eurasia from the Caucasus to the Himalayas and western China. The Himalayan Snowcock has been introduced...
.
Climbing
Geladaindong was first climbed by Japanese team in 1985 after three years of trying to obtain a permit. They ascended the peak via the northwest ridge approaching from the northeast.In 1997 an American team climbed a new route up the northeast face (55–60°). The team consisted of William N. Rom M.D., Dan Luchtel PhD, and Mark Newcomb. Mark Newcomb also pioneered a face solo route on the same expedition. Mark Newcomb was a guide with Exum Guides from Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park located in northwestern Wyoming, U.S. The Park consists of approximately and includes the major peaks of the long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Only south of Yellowstone...
.
Although a dangerous peak to climb, Geladaindong is popular among Chinese mountain climbers
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
. In 1994, the Mountaineering Association of Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
(MAPKU) became the first Chinese climbing team to reach the summit of Geladaindong.