Degelen
{{Short description|Range of mountains in Kazakhstan}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Degelen
| other_name = Дегелең
| photo = Degelen 2022-03-31-23 59 Sentinel-2 L2A.jpg
| photo_caption = Degelen massif Sentinel-2 image
| highest =
| elevation_m= 1084
| elevation_note=
| listing =
| parent = Kazakh Uplands
| map = Kazakhstan
| map_caption = Location in Kazakhstan
| label_position =
| location = Kazakhstan
| coordinates =
| coordinates_ref =
| geology=
| geology1=
| period= Devonian
| orogeny=Alpine orogeny
| range_coordinates = {{coord|49|47|N|78|04|E|region:RU_type:mountain|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| length_km= 20| length_orientation= NW / SE
| width_km= 15 | width_orientation= NE / SW
| easiest_route =
}}
Degelen ({{langx|kk|Дегелең}}) is a mountain massif in the Zhanasemey District, Abai Region, Kazakhstan.Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia / Ch. ed. B.O. Jakyp. — Almaty: « Kazakh encyclopedia» ZhSS, 2011. ISBN 9965-893-64-0 (T.Z.), ISBN 9965-893-19-5
Semey city, former Semipalatinsk, lies about {{convert|200|km|sp=us}} to the ENE of the Degelen mountain area. The Balapan nuclear test site lies to the northeast.[https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-showing-the-locations-of-the-former-Soviet-Degelen-and-Balapan-test-sites-faults_fig1_2548260 Map showing the locations of the former Soviet Degelen and Balapan test sites]
History
At the time of the Kazakh SSR Degelen was part of the Semipalatinsk Test Site complex. Around hundred horizontal tunnels were bored into the mountain to carry out nuclear tests operated by the USSR armed forces. The mountain massif was the location chosen for the majority of the subcritical and supercritical tests. 215 underground nuclear explosions were carried out.[https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70180952 Ongoing research experiments at the former Soviet nuclear test site in eastern Kazakhstan]
In 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the site was taken over by the government of Kazakhstan. The tunnels were closed in 1993. The abandoned electrical installations and the rails that had been used to transport the nuclear devices deep into the earth became a target of scavengers. Pillaging of copper and iron went on despite the safety measures at the site. Some of the tunnels were stocked with undetonated plutonium and they had to be sealed more thoroughly as part of a plan to eliminate nuclear weapons testing infrastructure in the mountain range.[https://pulitzercenter.org/projects/kazakhstan-degelen-mountain-and-nuclear-threat-averted Kazakhstan: Degelen Mountain and a Nuclear Threat Averted][https://www.nnc.kz/en/news/show/344 Elimination of nuclear testing infrastructure. Tunnels closure at Degelen Mountain Massif]
==Geography==
Degelen is part of the Kazakh Upland system (Saryarka). It is a compact-shaped range of moderate altitude located in the northeastern sector of the highlands. The abandoned village named Degelen after the massif lies off the northwestern slopes and the Myrzhyk massif lies {{convert|30|km|sp=us}} to the WNW.
Several peaks in the Degelen exceed {{convert|1000|m|sp=us}}; the highest point is a {{convert|1084|m|sp=us}} high summit. There are many fresh water springs in the mountains and the slopes are cut by ravines. A deep valley that opens to the east runs across the middle of the range dividing it into two segments: Ulken Degelen, the northern one, stretches from northwest to the southeast for {{convert|15|km|sp=us}}. Kishi Degelen, the southern one, is {{convert|5|km|sp=us}} wide and is almost as large. The Kalybai pass is at the western end of the valley. North flowing river Karabulak and east flowing Uzynbulak have their sources in the Degelen.{{cite web|url=https://maps.vlasenko.net/smtm1000/m-43.jpg|title=M-43 Chart (in Russian)|access-date=4 October 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://maps.vlasenko.net/smtm1000/m-44.jpg|title=M-44 Chart (in Russian)|access-date=4 October 2022}}Google Earth[https://peakvisor.com/peak/degelen.html Peakvisor -Gora Degelen]
Flora
The slopes of the massif are covered with steppe vegetation, including sedges, sagebrush and fescue. The narrow valleys have dense bush growth and birch, aspen-birch, and poplar-aspen forest. The soil and water of the area are still under radioactive contamination. In order to assess recovery, experimental zones have been planted with poplar, silver birch, Tatar maple and elm seedlings.[https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Degelen-test-site-Overview-left-and-soil-sampling-sites-in-the-area-of-the-tunnel_fig4_339055136 Radioactive particles released from different sources in the Semipalatinsk Test Site][https://www.jstor.org/stable/44505795 Everyday Radioactive Goods? Economic Development at Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan — The Journal of Asian Studies][https://inis.iaea.org/search/search.aspx?orig_q=RN:29067958 Study of natural biota of and biologic recovery possibilities for closed tunnels of the Degelen mountain complex]
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{commonscat-inline}}
- [https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NunnLugar/2015/64.%202013.08.00%20Plutonium%20Mountain-Web.pdf Plutonium Mountain - The National Security Archive]
- [https://silkadv.com/en/content/tour-semipalatinsk-nuclear-test-site Tours to Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. Tours in East Kazakhstan]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ9V5ksLbRA Omega-1 Seismic Experiment at Degelen]