Physical Geography of Kalpin County

Kalpin County is situated in the northwestern part of southern Xinjiang, at the westernmost end of Aksu Prefecture. It lies between 78°02′ and 79°57′ east longitude, and 40°02′ and 40°57′ north latitude. Nestled at the southern foot of the Artagh Mountain, a branch of the Tianshan Mountains, and on the northern edge of the Tarim Basin, it borders Aksu City and Awat County to the east, Bachu County of Kashgar Prefecture to the southwest, and Wushi County as well as Akqi County of Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture to the northwest.

The county stretches 164 kilometres from east to west and 105 kilometres from north to south, covering a total area of 8,912 square kilometres. Mountainous regions take up 6,238 square kilometres, accounting for 70 percent of the total land area.

Kalpin County features a continental warm temperate arid climate with abundant sunshine and scarce rainfall. The average annual precipitation is merely 73.8 millimetres, while the annual evaporation reaches 2,864.8 millimetres. The total annual runoff stands at 126 million cubic metres, and the annual water diversion volume is 99.5 million cubic metres.

The county enjoys 2,788 hours of sunshine annually, averaging 7.6 hours per day with a sunshine percentage of 63 percent. The annual average temperature is 11.4℃, with an extreme high of 43.1℃ and an extreme low of -29.3℃. The average daily temperature difference is 14.6℃, and the average frost-free period lasts 215 days. Endowed with the richest light and heat resources in Aksu Prefecture, Kalpin is among the most ideal counties for developing organic agricultural products.