CH'ANG-PAI MOUNTAINS

WadeGiles romanization Ch'ang-pai Shan, Pinyin Changbai Shan, Korean Changbaeksanmaek mountain range forming the border between the Chinese provinces of Liaoning and Kirin and North Korea. The name in Chinese means the forever white mountains; the Korean name means white-topped mountains. Consisting of a series of parallel ranges with a general southwest to northeast axis, the mountains are a continuation of the uplands of the Liaotung and Shantung peninsulas. The ranges are for the most part made up of ancient granites and metamorphic rocks and are broken up by a number of large intermontane fault troughs. The eastern sections were the site of considerable volcanic activity in recent geological times, usually along ancient fault lines; widespread lava eruptions occurred, resulting in the formation of many extinct volcanic cones and crater lakes. The terrain is rugged, and the mountains have been cut up by many deeply incised river valleys. These rivers are fast flowing, with steep gradients and frequent rapids. The area is by far the wettest part of the Northeast (Manchuria) region of China; its annual precipitation, including both rain and snow, ranges from 30 to 50 in. (760 to 1,270 mm). The whole area is under solid snow cover for two months a year, and the higher peaks, which range from 5,000 to 8,000 ft (1,500 to 2,400 m) above sea level, are snow covered for more than six months. The region is densely covered with mixed deciduous and coniferous forest. Alpine meadows occur on only the highest peaks above 6,500 ft. The name Ch'ang-pai Mountains first appeared in the 12th century. Before this the mountains were known as the Pu-hsien Shan or the Tan-tan Shan Ling. Until comparatively recent times, they formed a wild and inaccessible frontier region in which government control was tenuous. It was only in the late 19th century that its population, consisting of prospectors and trappers, was brought under a Chinese administration. Colonies of Koreans were settled in some of the mountain basins before and during the Japanese occupation of Manchuria (193145), and a considerable area forms the Yen-pien Korean Autonomous Prefecture (tzu-chih-chou) in Kirin Province. The mountains contain substantial mineral deposits of gold, iron, copper, magnesite, graphite, and various rare metals. The Ch'ang-pai Mountains Natural Reserve was established in 1960 and covers 550,000 ac (220,000 ha). It contains a great variety of vegetation and wildlife, as well as a crater lake, a high waterfall, and hot springs.