Tairus, a.range of mountains in Asia Minor, forming in the main the watershed between the waters flowing into the Mediterranean and those flowing into the Black sea. It consists of two principal chains, the Taurus proper, in the south of the peninsula, and its northeasterly continuation, the Anti-Taurus. With its ramifications in the north, which by former geographers were generally designated as the Anti-Taurus, the range forms three sides of the broad plateau of central and eastern Asia Minor. The commencement of the Taurus proper on the west is a disputed point. Its principal divisions are the Lycian and the Cilician Taurus. It follows closely the sinuosities of the coast, leaving but a narrow margin between; the northern slopes are less abrupt than the southern. Snow-capped peaks are numerous, and fine forests cover the sides of the chain. In the ancient province of Lycia the summits Takhtali Dagh and Ak Dagh are respectively 7,800 and 9,800 ft. high. Gok Dagh, on the confines of ancient Pisidia, Isauria, and Cilicia, is of about equal height with Ak Dagh, while the highest summit of Bulghar Dagh, further east, reaches an elevation of about 11,-400 ft.

The Ala Dagh connects Bulghar Dagh with the Anti-Taurus, which extends from the W. branch of the Sihun (anc. Sarus), through Cappadocia, to the vicinity of the upper Euphrates and the Armenian mountains. The Arjish Dagh (anc. Argoeus, in Cappadocia), the highest peak of Asia Minor (13,100 ft.), though isolated, is generally reckoned as belonging to the Anti-Taurus. On the whole, however, this chain is less high than the Taurus proper. The Amanus range, E. of the river Sihun (anc. Pyramus), connects the Anti-Taurus with the mountain system of Syria. The main pass between the latter country and Asia Minor, called by the ancients the Cilician Gates, is formed by the valley of the upper Cydnus (now Tersus), in the Cilician Taurus, N. W. of Adana.