A szecsuáni hegyek királya, a Gongga-hegy (Minya Konka)

In this study the physical geography and morphology of a mountain range in Eastern Tibet, which is less known in Hungary, is introduced. This mountain range, the Minya Konka or Gongga Mountains has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in China, where electric buses and cable cars take visitors up to almost 4000 metres to the Hailuogou Glacier Park. These visitors can admire the vertical zonation of the rich flora, from the diverse rainforest surrounding the mountains through the cloud forest to the subalpine dwarf shrubs. The activity of the glaciers and the meltwater springing from the snow-capped peaks of 6,000-7,000 metres are also on display. Through field observations and the analysis of satellite images the goal was to characterize the physical geography and to understand the glacial processes of the high mountain range emerging like an island from a subtropical monsoon climate, as well as to reveal the factors and impacts and their effect on the formation of the mountain surfaces. On the other hand, with the use of morphometrical measurements performed on satellite imagery also distinction between moraine and glacier types was aimed and determination of the extent of the current retreat of glaciers in the mountain range based on the position of the lateral and terminal moraine ridge.