Qinling Mountains

Geobox|Range
name=Qinling Mountain Range


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country=Flagicon|China China
region=Shaanxi Province
parent=
geology=
period=
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highest=Mount Taibai
highest_elevation_imperial=12360
highest_lat_d=33|highest_lat_m=57|highest_lat_s=48|highest_lat_NS=N
highest_long_d=107|highest_long_m=37|highest_long_s=05|highest_long_EW=EThe Qinling Mountains (zh-ts|t=秦嶺|s=秦岭) are a major mountain range located mainly in the Eastern province of Shaanxi, in China. The mountains provide a natural boundary between the North and South of the country, and support a huge variety of plant and wildlife, some of which is found nowhere else on Earth.

The Northern side of the range is prone to cold weather, however the physical barrier of the mountains mean that the land to the South enjoys a sub-tropical climate, with the rich, fertile landscape supporting a wealth of wildlife and vegetation. [cite web| url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa0434.html| title=Qinling Mountains deciduous forests| work=National Geographic| accessdate=2007-12-17| ]

The mountains also act as a natural defense against nomadic invasions from the North, as only four passes cross the mountains, although in the late 1990s a railway tunnel was completed, thereby easing travel across the range. [cite web| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62836923.html| title=Qinling Breakthroughs | work=Highbeam Research| accessdate=2007-12-17| ]

The highest mountain in the range is Mount Taibai, (3,767 metres), which is around 100 kilometres West of the ancient Chinese capital of Xi'an. [cite web| url=http://www.bookrags.com/Qinling_Mountains| title=Qinling Mountains | work=Bookrags.com| accessdate=2007-12-17| ]

Biology

Flora

The region is home to a large number of rare plants, of which around 3,000 have so far been documented. [cite web| url=http://www.bookrags.com/Qinling_Mountains| title=Qinling Mountains | work=Bookrags.com| accessdate=2007-12-17| ] Plant and tree species native to the region include Ginkgo, thought to be one of the oldest species of tree in the world, as well as Huashan or Armand Pine, "Acer miaotaiense" and Chinese Fir. [cite web| url=http://www.wildgiantpanda.com/qinling.htm| title=Qinling Mountains | work=Wild Giant Panda| accessdate=2007-12-17| ] Timber harvesting reached a peak in the 18th century in the Qinling Mountains. [Forest and Land Management in Imperial China By Nicholas K. Menzies]

Fauna

They are home to the Qinling Pandas, a sub-species of the Giant Panda, which are protected in the region with the help of the Changqing and Foping nature reserves. [cite web| url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa0434.html| title=Qin Ling Mountains deciduous forests| work=National Geographic| accessdate=2007-12-17| ] Around 200 pandas live in the region, estimated at around a fifth of the entire wild panda population. [cite web| url=http://www.bookrags.com/Qinling_Mountains| title=Qinling Mountains | work=Bookrags.com| accessdate=2007-12-17| ] The mountains are also home to the Golden Takin (a species of Ox), Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Crested Ibis, Golden Eagle, and Clouded Leopard. [cite web| url=http://www.wwfchina.org/english/sub_loca.php?loca=27&sub=90| title=Qinling giant panda focal project | work=WWF China | accessdate=2007-12-17| ]

ee also

* Gallery road
* Qinling Panda

References