Altay Prefecture is a prefecture in northern Xinjiang, China. It has an area of and a population of 561,667 (2000). It is a part of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. As of the 2000 census, Altay was the only major subdivision of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture with an ethnic Kazakh majority (about 51%). In 2007, it had a GDP of RMB 9.9 billion with a 12% growth rate. It also shares an international border with the neighboring Altai Republic, located within Russia.

Altay is considered the birthplace of skiing, based on 10,000 to 30,000 year old cave paintings depicting skiers.

Geography

Both the Irtysh River and the Ulungur River run through the prefecture. The Kanas Lake and Ulungur Lake reside in the north.

The Altay Prefecture has an average elevation of 1,408 meters; with a minimum elevation of 246 meters and a maximum of 4,178 meters.

Subdivisions

The prefecture is divided into one county-level city and six counties.

Demographics

Administration

Secretary of the Party Committee

• Zhang Yan March 2017 –

Administrative Commissioner

1. Mawken Seyitqamzaüli 2003 – 2007

2. Aitzhanuly Sabir (2007-2012)

3. Talgat Usen :zh:塔里哈提·吾逊 2012 — 1 April 2017

4. Qadan Käbenuly 1 April 2017 — April 2021

5. Zhenis Khadis 2021 – 2026

6. Aydyn Toleukhanuly

7. Mukhtar Kalimbek May 2026

Notes

References