Geomorphological study of the origin of Mongolian Altai Mountains Lake depressions: implications for the relationships between tectonic and glacial processes

The lake depressions in the Mongolian Altai Mountains, and the issues related totheir formation have yet to be thoroughly examined in previous research. Previousstudies primarily focused on the paleogeographical evolution and glaciationdynamics of the Altai Mountains. This study presents relationships betweentectonic and glacial processes that have formed the lake depressions, such asKhoton, Khurgan, Dayan, Khar (western), and Khar (eastern) in the MongolianAltai Mountains. The depressions of Khoton, Khurgan, and Dayan lakes aresituated along regional fault zones, extending in an northwest-southeast direction, formingintermontane depressions directly connected to the Mongolian Altai Mountains.However, the depressions of Dayan, Khar (western), and Khar (eastern) lakeshave been dammed by moraine deposits in the near portion of the depression. Thecompliance matrix of tectonic geomorphological criteria indicates that the Khoton,Khurgan, Dayan Lake, and Khar (western) Lake depressions are more than 50%compatible. Similarly, the compliance matrix for glacial geomorphological criteriaindicates more than 60% compliance for all lake depressions. The MongolianAltai intermontane depressions are thus of tectonic origin, whereas the lakes havea glacial origin, resulting from dammed moraine sediments. The significanceof this work lies in demonstrating how geomorphological research can beemployed to provide a detailed understanding of the pattern of lake depressions.