| Yablonoi Mountains | |
| Other Name: | Яблоновый хребет / Яабланай шэлэ нуруу |
| Country: | Russia |
| Subdivision2 Type: | Federal subject |
| Subdivision2: | Transbaikal Krai |
| Borders On: | Mongolia |
| Highest: | Kontalaksky Golets |
| Elevation M: | 2519 |
| Coordinates: | 53.9131°N 115.6931°W |
| Range Coordinates: | 52.05°N 148°W |
| Parent: | South Siberian System |
| Geology: | Granites, crystalline slates, and sandstones |
| Map: | Russia Zabaykalsky Krai |
| Length Km: | 650 |
| Length Orientation: | NE/SW |
| Width Km: | 70 |
| Width Orientation: | NW/SE |
| Easiest Route: | From Chita |
The Yablonoi Mountains or Yablonovy Mountains (Russian: Яблоновый хребет, Buriat: Яабланай шэлэ нуруу, ; Mongolian: Яблоны нуруу, Yablony nuruu) are a mountain range, in Transbaikal (mainly in Zabaykalsky Krai), Siberia, Russia. The range is sparsely inhabited with most settlements engaged in mining. The area is especially rich in tin. The city of Chita lies between the Yablonoi Mountains to the west and the Chersky Range to the east.[1]
The Trans-Siberian Railroad passes the mountains at Chita and runs parallel to the range before going through a tunnel to bypass the heights.[2]
The Yablonoi Mountains stretch for about 650km (400miles) in a northeast–southwest direction. They rise mostly in the western part of the Zabaikalsky Krai, with a small section in the southeastern part of Buryatia. The width of the range varies between 20km (10miles) and 120km (80miles). The Vitim Plateau lies to the north and the Borshchovochny Range to the east of the range. The tallest peak is Kontalaksky Golets, a "golets"-type of mountain with a bald peak, at 1706m (5,597feet) above sea level.[3]
The Vitim River flows at the northwestern edge of the range, together with its tributaries the Konda and the Karenga, which flow northeastwards. To the southwest flow the Khilok and the Ingoda and in the northeast the Olyokma.[4]
The slopes of the Yablonoviy Range are covered with larch and occasional fir and silver fir taiga. Pine forests are quite common on the southern slopes of the range. Peaks higher than 1,200–1,400 metres are covered with mountain tundra with bare summits (golets) at higher altitudes.