A discussion on the boundary and area of the Tibetan Plateau in China
A discussion on the boundary and area of the Tibetan Plateau in China
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作者：
Z. Du
青藏高原是由极高山、高山、丘陵、平原、高海拔或亚高海拔高原等基本地貌类型组成的独特地貌单元。关于青藏高原的确切范围，历来存在着不同的看法。根据最新的研究成果和长期的野外考察，从地理学的角度对高原的面积和边界问题进行了探讨，提出了以地貌特征为主，兼顾整体性的原则来确定高原的边界。1∶ 100万地貌图是在1∶ 10万航摄图、1∶ 50万地形图和卫星影像解译的基础上编制的。根据1∶ 300万地形图，划定了青藏高原的边界，利用GIS和GPS技术，定量确定了边界的位置，编制了青藏高原电子地图。主要结论是青藏高原起自喜马拉雅山南缘，与印度、尼泊尔、不丹接壤，连接昆仑山北方边缘、阿尔金山和祁连山，与中亚的塔里木盆地和河西走廊相接，西临帕米尔高原和喀喇昆仑山，与吉尔吉斯斯坦、塔吉克斯坦、阿富汗、巴基斯坦和克什米尔接壤。东部是玉龙雪山、大雪山、夹金山、邛崃山Mts.as岷山皮埃蒙特南麓或东麓。青藏高原东部和东北部与秦岭和黄土高原相连。中国境内的青藏高原西起帕米尔高原，东至横断山。它东西横跨东经31度，长2945 km，南北横跨北纬13度，长1532 km。其范围为26°00′12”~ 39°46′50”N，73°18′52“~ 104°46′59“E，面积2572.4 × 103 km 2。行政区划包括西藏自治区等6个省的201个县（市）青海省73个县（市），面积1176.0 × 103 km 2，部分县（市）为错那、墨脱、察隅滇西北德庆藏族自治州40个县（市），面积721.0 × 103 km 2，部分县（市）仅有部分土地（9个县/市，33.5 × 103 km 2），川西（甘孜州、阿坝藏族羌族自治州、木里自治县等46个县/市，约254.0× 103 km 2），甘肃省21个县（市），面积74.9× 103 km 2;新疆南部12个县（市），面积313.0× 103 km 2。
The Tibetan Plateau is a unique geomorphic unit composed of some basic geomorphic types, such as extreme high mountains,high mountains, hills, plains, and tablelands of high altitude or sub-high altitude. Different opinions for the exact scope of Tibetan Plateau exist. According to latest research achievement and the long time fieldwork, questions related to the area and boundary of the Plateau have been discussed in view of geography, and the principles taking geomorphic characters as the main rule and considering the integrity have been made to define the boundary. The 1∶1 000 000 geomorphological map was compiled based on 1∶100 000 aerial photographic map,1∶500 000 topographic map and interpretation of satellite images. By refering to the 1∶3 000 000 relief map, the boundary of the Plateau was delineated.The position of the boundary was quantitatively determined with GIS and GPS.The map of electronic version of the Tibetan Plateau was compiled. The main conclusion is that Tibetan Plateau starts from the southern edge of the Himalayan Range, abuts on India,Nepal and Bhutan,connects the northern edge of Kunlun, Altun and Qilian Mts., and joins Tarim Basin and Hexi Corridor in Central Asia.The west of it is the Pamirs and Karakorum Mts., bordering on Kirghizistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir. The east of it is Yulongxueshan, Daxueshan, Jiajinshan and Qionglaishan Mts.as well as south or east piedmont of Minshan Mts. Tibetan Plateau joins the Qinling Mts.and Loess Plateau with its eastern and northeastern part. Tibetan Plateau in China's territory starts from the Pamirs in the west and reaches to Hengduanshan in the east. It bestrides a longitude of 31 degrees with a length of 2 945 km from east to west,and bestrides a latitude of 13 degrees with a length of 1 532 km from south to north. It ranges from 26°00′12" N to 39°46′50" N and from 73°18′52"E to 104°46′59"E, covering an area of 2 572.4×10 3 km 2. Administratively, it embraces 201 counties (cities) in 6 provinces, namely, the Tibet Autonomous Region (73 counties/cities,1 176.0×10 3 km 2, part of Cona, Medog and Zayu), the Qinghai Province(40 counties/cities,721.0×10 3 km 2, some counties only partially), Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Northwest Yunnan Province(9 counties/cities,33.5×10 3 km 2), West Sichuan Province ( 46 counties/cities about 254.0×10 3 km 2 ,such as Garze Autonomous Prefecture, Aba Tibetan and Qiangzu Autonomous Prefecture,and Muli Autonomous County, etc.),Gansu Province(21 counties/cities, 74.9×10 3 km 2), and Southern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (about 12 counties/cities, 313.0×10 3 km 2).