CHAP. XV - THE GLACIERS AND MORAINES OF TUPCHEK

Summary

Having described the lie of the land and recorded various observations in the preceding chapter, I shall devote this one to glacial phenomena.

Beginning with the easternmost glacier, the Borolmas, I draw the reader's attention to Fig. 137. On that more or less diagrammatic plan of Tupchek I have shown the left lateral moraines of the glacier with their sharp rectangular bend towards the west. Between the moraine and the soft northern ridge of Little Achik lies the small valley or dell of the Karashura, part of which stream subsequently descends into the Kosh plateau (cf. Chapter XIV and Fig. 143), afterwards joining the Borolmas river. A short and low ridge from Borolmas peak divides the present Borolmas and Kizilsu glaciers which in former times flowed together, leaving behind a mass of morainic undulations common to them both. For the sake of simplicity I shall apply the name of Borolmas moraines also to this joint product.

We now turn to Fig. 151, a view taken from a position just below the angle or knee mentioned above, in the midst of the morainic hills which in themselves form quite a mountain world with deep valleys and bowls, ridges and humps. The Borolmas peak is easily identified on the right. Our standpoint is in that portion of the moraine spreading out fan-like towards the Karashura and Kosh plateaus, while the main direction of the flow is almost due north. Immediately in front of us is a comparatively small moraine (with a large, square boulder on top), namely the one branching off at right angles from the great lateral moraine.