| The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07. |
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| Alay |
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or Alai (both: äl ´) (KEY) , mountain range, SW Kyrgyzstan. A western branch of the Tian Shan system, it extends c.200 mi (320 km) W from the Chinese border and rises to c.19,280 ft (5,880 m) in its western portion. The Alay valley, south of the range, is a fertile elevated (c.9,800 ft/2,990 m) grassland used for grazing; there is irrigated grain cultivation in the west. |
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| | | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright © 2007 Columbia University Press. |
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