Bulungkol

The name of Bulungkol is from Kyrgyz language, meaning "lake in the corner" (角落里的湖泊), it was named after the Bulungkol Lake (布伦口湖) in its territory.[10][11]

In 1955, Bulungkol was transferred to Akto County from Tashkurgan County.[4]^:193

In 1959, Bulungkol Commune (布伦口公社) was established.[12]

In 1967, Bulungkol Commune was renamed Fanxiu Commune ('anti-revisionism commune' 反修公社).[12]

In 1984, Fanxiu Commune became Bulungkol Township.[12]

Overlooking Kongur - Mustag Mountains from the Karakoram Highway next to the Karakul Lake

The township of Bulungkol is located on the Pamir Plateau, 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 Oytak Town to the north, by Muji Township to the west, by Tashkurgan County and the Republic of Tajikistan to the south. The township has a boundary line of 82 kilometers with 8 mountain passes connecting Tajikistan. The seat of the township is 140 kilometers away from the county seat. The area of grassland is 31,290 hectares, and the area of artificial grassland is 665.15 hectares.

Bulungkol Township has an alpine climate with an average annual temperature of 0.7 ℃, an average temperature of January –12.1 ℃, an average temperature of 12.2 ℃ in July, an annual precipitation of 150 to 200 mm, and a frost-free period of 90 to 100 days. The mountains and valleys in the territory are interlaced, with an altitude of 3,000 to 4,500 meters. The highest point is 7,719 meters at the peak of Kongurtagh Tiube. The Kongur - Mustag mountains are cascaded, the gullies are horizontal and vertical, and the peaks are covered with snow all year round. There are large areas of glaciers, the Gez River (盖孜河) and the Kangxiwar River (康西瓦尔河) originate from this glaciers. There are lakes and springs under the mountains with beautiful scenery, cold weather and more precipitation. There are rare wild animals such as snowcock, snow leopard, procapra przewalskii and argali, and there are rare vegetation such as sand holly and snow lotus. The mineral resources mainly include metal mines such as iron, gold and copper, and non-metallic minerals such as diamond, granite and muscovite. The main tourist attractions are Karakul Lake (national tourist attraction) and Baisha Mountain (白沙山).[13][1]

• 
  South face of Kongur Tagh
• 
  Kongur Tagh
• 
  Kongur Tagh
• 
  Karakul Lake
• 
  Gez Valley
• 
  gobi and glaciers
• 
  Bulungkol Lake
• 
  Bulungkol Lake
• 
  Map of the region including Bulungkol (DMA, 1988)

The township has 5 administration villages.[14][2]

5 administration villages

• Bulungkol (بۇلۇڭكۆل كەنت,[8] Bulunkou 布伦口村)
• Gez (Gaizi, Gaizicun;[15] 盖孜村) 38°45′58″N 075°18′52″E
• Qiake'er'aigele (Qiake’er Aigelecun;[16] 恰克尔艾格勒村) 38°47′32″N 074°56′28″E
• Subax (Subashi; 苏巴什村), location of Kongur Tagh (公格尔九别峰)
• Tuogayi (托喀依村)

Unincorporated villages

• Qarjayit (恰尔加依特)

As of 1997, the population of Bulungkol Township was 99.9% Kyrgyz.[2]

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.[4]^:193

• China National Highway 314,[4]^:193 part of the Karakoram Highway[12]

• China–Tajikistan border