The Tianshan region, characterized by complex geomorphology, intense tectonic activity, and significant climatic variation, is a high-prone area for landslide disasters. However, the mechanisms by which endogenic and exogenic geological processes influence the initiation, evolution, and regional distribution of landslides remain poorly understood. This study focuses on major landslide disasters in the Tianshan Mountains. Through remote sensing interpretation, field investigations, and statistical analysis, a preliminary database of major landslides covering the entire Tianshan range was established, and the distribution patterns of these disasters under the influence of geological dynamics were analyzed. The results indicate that landslides in the Tianshan region exhibit notable tectonic control and vertical zonation. High-density clusters are concentrated near the border area of China, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, as well as the junction between the western tectonic syntaxis (Pamir Plateau) and the Tianshan Mountains, controlled by active faults and high topographic relief. Tongue-shaped landslides dominate (68.5%), and channel deposition types account for more than 60% of the deposits. Giant landslides constitute 37.6% of the inventory, and 26.5% of the landslides have apparent friction coefficients below 0.25, indicating a prevalence of long-runout rock avalanches. River damming phenomena are observed in 22.1% of the landslides, highlighting significant disaster chain effects. Three models—Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN)—were employed for landslide susceptibility assessment. Model validation shows that the ANN model achieves the highest prediction accuracy, demonstrating stronger risk identification capability and suitability for spatial susceptibility assessment in the study area. This research provides a scientific basis for disaster risk management in high-relief mountainous regions and offers practical insights for enhancing geological hazard safety assurance capabilities for major projects under “the Belt and Road” in the Tianshan region.

Landslides,Tianshan Region,Landslide distributions