Bulungkol

Bulungkol Township (بۇلۇڭكۆل يېزىسى) is a township of Akto County in Xinjiang, China. Located in the middle west of the county, the township covers an area of 4,585 square kilometers with a population of 7,133 (as of 2017). It has 5 administrative villages under its jurisdiction. Its seat is at Bulungkol Village (布伦口村).

Name
The name "Bulungkol" is from the Kyrgyz language, meaning "lake in the corner" (角落里的湖泊). It was named after Lake Bulungkol (布伦口湖) in its territory.

History
In 1955, Bulungkol was transferred to Akto County from Tashkurgan County.

In 1959, Bulungkol Commune (布伦口公社) was established.

In 1967, Bulungkol Commune was renamed Fanxiu Commune ('anti-revisionism commune' 反修公社).

In 1984, Fanxiu Commune became Bulungkol Township.

Geography
The township of Bulungkol is located on the Pamir Plateau, in the southwest of Akto County, between east longitude 74°36′- 75°37′ and north latitude 38°10′- 38°58′. It is bordered by Barin Township and Kirzilto Township to the east, by the town of Oytak to the north, by Muji Township to the west, and by Tashkurgan County and the Republic of Tajikistan to the south. The township has an 84 km border with neighboring Tajikistan, with 8 mountain passes connecting the two. The seat of Bulungkol Township is 140 km away from the Akto County seat. The area of grassland is 312.90 km2, and the area of grazed grassland is 665.15 hectare.

Bulungkol comprises a number of mountains and valleys, with most of its elevation ranging from 3000 m to 4500 m above sea level. The township's highest point, Kongur Tiube, is 7719 m above sea level. The mountains of Kongur Tagh and Muztagh Ata are cascaded, the gullies are horizontal and vertical, and the peaks are covered with snow all year round. There are large areas of glaciers, with the and the Kangxiwar River (康西瓦尔河) originating from these glaciers. Bulungkol Township's landscape also includes a number of lakes and springs.

Flora and fauna
The township is home to rare wild animals, such as the snowcock, snow leopard, procapra przewalskii and argali. There is also rare vegetation such as sand holly and snow lotus.

Geology
The mineral resources mainly include metal mines such as iron, gold and copper, and non-metallic minerals such as diamond, granite and muscovite.

Climate
Bulungkol Township has an alpine climate with an average annual temperature of 0.7 °C. The township's average temperature in January is -12.1 °C, and its an average temperature in July is 12.2 °C. Bulungkol Township typically experiences an annual precipitation of between 150 mm and 200 mm, and a frost-free period of 90 to 100 days.

Administrative divisions
Bulungkol Township governs the following five administrative villages : These administrative villages also include a number of natural villages, which do not serve as administrative divisions, such as the village of Qarjayit (恰尔加依特).
 * Bulungkol (بۇلۇڭكۆل كەنتى, Bulunkou 布伦口村)
 * Gez (Gaizi, Gaizicun; 盖孜村) 38.76611°N, 75.31444°W
 * Qiake'er'aigele (Qiake’er Aigelecun; 恰克尔艾格勒村) 38.79222°N, 74.94111°W
 * Subax (سۇباش كەنتى; 苏巴什村), location of Kongur Tagh (公格尔九别峰)
 * Tuogayi (托喀依村)

Demographics
, the population of Bulungkol Township was 99.9% Kyrgyz.

Economy
Animal husbandry is the main component of Bulungkol's economy, producing Subashi Large-tailed Sheep (苏巴什大尾羊). Mineral resources include iron, copper, spodumene, beryl, muscovite and others.

Transportation

 * China National Highway 314, part of the Karakoram Highway

Tourism
The main tourist attractions are Karakul Lake, a designated national tourist attraction, and Baisha Mountain (白沙山).