The Suntar-Khayata is approximately 450–550 km long and 60 km wide.[2][3] 2,959 metres (9,708 ft) high Mus-Khaya Mountain, located in the Sakha Republic, is the highest point of the range.[2]Berill Mountain, at 2,933 metres (9,623 ft) is the highest summit in Khabarovsk Krai. Mount Khakandya (Гора Хакандя)[4] is an ultra-prominent peak that is 2,615 metres (8,579 ft) high.[5]
The Suntar-Khayata Range is geographically a southeastern prolongation of the Verkhoyansk Range. Until mid 20th century it was treated as a separate range, together with the Skalisty Range, highest point 2,017 metres (6,617 ft), and the Sette Daban, highest point 2,017 metres (6,617 ft), to the southwest. The Yudoma-Maya Highlands are located to the south of the range[6] and the Upper Kolyma Highlands to the northeast.[7]
Map of the Verkhoyansk Range] with the Suntar-Khayata in the lower right.
Geology
The strata of this geological formation date back to the Late Jurassic. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[10]
A small population of Brown Dippers(Cinclus pallasi) winters at a hot spring in the Suntar-Khayata Range. The birds feed underwater when air temperatures drop below −55 °C (−67 °F).[11]
Vertebrate paleofauna
Indeterminate Carnosauria remains, possible indeterminate Coelurosaur remains, indeterminate Sauropoda remains that had been previously referred to Camarasauridae indet, and indeterminate Theropoda remains have all been recovered from Suntar outcrops in Sakha Republic, Russia.[10]
^ abcdeWeishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Jurassic, Asia)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 550–552. ISBN0-520-24209-2.
^Dinets, V.; Sanchez, M. (2017). "Brown Dippers (Cinclus pallasi) overwintering at −65°C in Northeastern Siberia". Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 129 (2): 397–400. doi:10.1676/16-071.1. S2CID91058122.
