Ta Pa Mountains

(or Pa Mountains), a mountain range in China, a southeastern branch of the Tsinling range. The range forms a divide between the Yangtze River and its principal left tributary, the Han Shui. It runs from the northwest to the southeast for approximately 200 km and forms the northeastern boundary of the Szechwan basin. It reaches an elevation of 2,708 m (Shup’ing Mountain). The northern slopes are fairly steep, and the southern gentle. Its rock is chiefly crystalline. It has a moderate monsoon climate with heavy rains in the summer. Annual precipitation is more than 1,000 mm. Its slopes are covered with broad-leaved forests. Industries include lumbering and the production of tung oil.