Geological and geomorphological background of cataclysmic debris flooding in the Altai mountain rivers

Abstract

Article discusses effects of catastrophic floods on the rivers in the Altai Mountains. The whole complex of floodplain terraces of the main rivers – the Biya and Katun was formed by insertion of these rivers in the loose deposits, that was formed as the one-act occurrence associated with glacial-dammed lakes – the Prateletskie and Chui-Kuraipaleovo-doema. This conclusion is confirmed by a series of radiocarbon age determinations of sediments and opto-luminescence dating.