Three Peaks challenges in Kazakhstan

The landscapes of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan stretches across immense steppe and dry basins, with much more pronounced mountain country along its eastern and southeastern margins. The Altai and the ranges near Almaty belong to different regional settings within this large inland country.

The mountains south of Almaty form part of the Tian Shan, while Kazakhstan's Altai country lies much farther northeast. Between these regions are extensive basins and steppe landscapes. The Junggar Alatau provides another southeastern mountain setting, reinforcing the geographical variety along the country's upland margins rather than a single compact range.