Geladandong

Geladandong (also spelled Geladaindong or Geladaintong) is a snow-covered mountain (or massif) located in southwestern Qinghai, China, near that province's border with Tibet Autonomous Region. It is the tallest mountain in the Tanggula Mountain Range of the Tibetan Plateau (with an elevation of 6,621 meters or 21,722 feet above sea level), and the source of the Yangtze River, which begins with glaciers on its surface.

The mountain's name is Geladaindong in the Tibetan language. The name in Chinese is (pinyin: Gèlādāndōng) or (pinyin: Gèlādāndōng Fēng; literally "Geladandong Peak").

Location

Geladandong is located at approximately coord|33|5|0|N|91|0|0|E|, in an exclave of Haixi Prefecture, in the middle section of Tanggula Shan (the Tanggula Mountain Range). It is close to the Gyêgu (Yushu) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and directly across the border from Amdo County, Nagqu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. It is encircled by over twenty high peaks exceeding 6000 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.

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 deer, Asiatic wild ass, snow leopard, and alpine snowcock.

Recreation

Although a dangerous peak to climb, Geladandong 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 Geladandong.

External links

* [http://www.tibetinfor.com/english/news/2003-4-14/News02003414105417.htm Geladandong page]
* [http://www.hkctp.com.hk/eng/magazine/281/Nature.asp Geladaindong page]
* [http://www.outdoorschina.com/image/tid/28 Peking University mountaineering team's 1994 Geladaindong Climbing Photos page]