Motianling

　　Introduction Motianling is situated in the upper reaches of Dahei Gully in the northeast of Arxan City, Xing'an League. With an elevation of 1,711.8 meters, it is the highest peak of the Greater Khingan Mountains. The mountain base sits at an altitude of 1,350 meters, giving it a relative height of 362 meters. Motianling actually refers to the older of two volcanic cones — the new cone has been covered by forest. At the foot of the mountain, within a broad valley, lies a large expanse of black basalt basin with a "sea" of lava debris. On the western and southern sides of the mountain are barrier lakes formed when lava flows dammed rivers, namely Songye Lake (also known as Darbin Lake), Azalea Lake, Crane Lake, and Deer Call Lake. The Motianling volcanic cone is the highest and most typical composite volcano among the many volcanic cones in eastern Inner Mongolia. Together with the surrounding volcanic cones, lava flows, and barrier lakes, it forms a complete volcanic landscape and lava scenery. The elevation of the Motianling volcanic cone is only surpassed by Tibet’s Kardaxi Volcano (4,900 m), Changbai Mountain’s Baiyun Peak (2,749.2 m), and Tengchong’s Daying Mountain (2,595 m), ranking it fourth. In terms of cone height, it ranks second only to Baiyun Peak.

　　 Inner Mongolia Xing'an League

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