A highland cryophyte detritous semidesert of a Mongolian type called Chuiskaya Step', situated in the SE (Russian) Altai Mts. in a hollow between the Kuraiskii (seen apart) and Yuzhno-Chuiskii mountain ranges, at 1800 m above sea level. It is specked with small lakes, such as that seen, with the banks covered with sparse large tussocks of Achnaterum splendens (Trin.) Nevski (= Lasiagrostis splendens (Trin.) Kunth.), locally called "chii".

At village Kosh-Agach, the Altai Mts., Altai Republic, West Siberia, Russia. 9th July 1998. O. Kosterin.