Altai Mountains
1
7.0
- proper noun
- In his youth, he worked on digs in the Altai Mountains, a range west of Por-Bajin.
Examples
-
In 1998, we excavated one of these great kurgans in the Altai Mountains of eastern Kazakhstan.
Academic text (2002) -
As we trekked through the scenic wilderness, the stunning views of the Altai Mountains took our breath away.
-
Beyond these dunes, we are surrounded by Altai Mountains.
-
We also know from the imagery associated with the regalia that our horsemen were not confined to the Altai Mountains.
Academic text (2002) -
We returned in May 1999, and roofed in the dig with wood planks and plastic sheets to protect ourselves from the thunderstorms typical of the Altai Mountains in the spring.
Academic text (2002) -
Hoping to find similar burials, we were drawn to Kazakhstan's Bukhtarma Valley, high in the Altai Mountains, where in 1996 we selected a kurgan near the village of Berel for excavation.
Academic text (2002) -
PHOTO (COLOR): Artist's rendering of some of the elaborately costumed horses that were led to a Scythian nobleman's burial site in modern-day Kazakhstan's Altai Mountains.
Academic text (2002) -
The Altai Mountains form a natural boundary between Kazakhstan and Mongolia, making them a crucial geographical feature in the region.
-
During our travels, we explored the rich biodiversity found in the Altai Mountains, which are home to many unique species.
Synonyms
1
7.4
A mountain range in central Asia that stretches from Kazakhstan into western Mongolia and northern China
Surface Forms
Morphology
Altai + mountain
This is a compositional place name: the proper name 'Altai' combined with 'Mountains' clearly yields 'mountains (a mountain range) called Altai.' While a learner cannot infer the detailed geography from the parts, the core referent (that it is a mountain range named Altai) is directly derivable and follows a cross-linguistically common NAME + Mountains pattern.
Etymology
Altai Mountains: The name comes from an old local word Altai that meant 'gold'. People called the range the 'golden mountains' because the rocks and the light on the peaks looked golden, so the name still makes you think of 'golden mountains' today.