Quck answer
Siberia is a vast region located in the northern part of Asia, covering about 77% of Russia’s landmass. It is bordered by the Ural Mountains to the west, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Central Asian regions to the south. Siberia is known for its harsh climate, with long, cold winters and short summers. The region is rich in natural resources, including oil, gas, minerals, and forests. Siberia is home to various indigenous peoples and has diverse landscapes, including taiga forests, tundra, and mountain ranges.
When you think of Russia, what comes to mind? Moscow? The Kremlin? Those big furry hats? How about a vast frozen area with large bears, exotic tigers, and very few people?
For many people, the first thing they think of when they hear “Russia” is Siberia. Siberia is known for its large bears, Siberian tigers, and relatively low population density. However, it offers much more than you may have imagined.
By any measure, Siberia is huge. It stretches from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean and from the Arctic Ocean in the north to northern Kazakhstan and the borders of Mongolia and China. Siberia covers the entire northern part of the Asian continent.
In total, Siberia occupies approximately 5.2 million square miles, which is about nine percent of all the dry land on Earth. Siberia is roughly the same size as Canada and makes up the majority of Russian territory.
With such a vast land area, it’s no surprise that Siberia has diverse geography and climates. The northern regions of Siberia, closest to the Arctic Ocean, are mostly frozen tundra and permafrost, with frigid temperatures year-round.
As you move south and west in Siberia, the climate becomes milder. The climate in these areas consists of long, cold winters followed by warm, mild summers.
As you travel away from the cold north, you’ll encounter evergreen pine forests, black earth steppes, rugged mountains, expansive grasslands, large swamps, and even subtropical forests near the Pacific Ocean. Siberia is also home to four of the world’s ten longest rivers: the Ob, Amur, Lena, and Yenisei.
Today, Siberia is inhabited by approximately 36 million people. Most people live in large cities in western and southern Siberia. Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia, has a population of over 1.3 million.
Many of Siberia’s residents work in mining, industrial, and manufacturing jobs, which are abundant in the large cities. In fact, many of Siberia’s largest cities developed around areas rich in natural resources, including coal, petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, iron ore, gold, and other minerals such as manganese, lead, zinc, nickel, and cobalt.
Another interesting feature of Siberia is Lake Baikal. It is the largest, oldest, and deepest freshwater lake on Earth. Estimated to be around 30 million years old, Lake Baikal holds about 20% of the non-frozen water on Earth. Its deepest point is 5,387 feet!
In terms of surface area, Lake Baikal is about the same size as the Netherlands. Since the Angara River is the only river that flows out of Lake Baikal, its waters are very clean. On a sunny day, you can see objects nearly 165 feet below the surface of Lake Baikal!
Give It a Try
Are you ready to explore Siberia? Find a friend or family member to join you as you embark on the following activities:
- In June 1908, there was an explosion in the skies over Siberia caused by a meteorite that broke up. To learn more about this event and see how artists imagine it based on eyewitness accounts, go online and read “1908 Siberia Explosion: Reconstructing an Asteroid Impact from Eyewitness Accounts”. What do you think it would have been like to witness this event?
- Have you ever tried to comprehend the vastness of Siberia? To get a better understanding of its size and explore its various features, take a look at this online Map of Siberia. Would you ever consider visiting Siberia? Why or why not?
- If you ever have the opportunity to visit Siberia, make sure to include Lake Baikal on your itinerary. It is the world’s largest freshwater lake by volume and depth. To get a glimpse of its beauty and inspire your desire to visit, check out these 15 awe-inspiring photos of Lake Baikal in Siberia online.
References
- http://www.encyclopedia.com/places/commonwealth-independent-states-and-baltic-nations/cis-and-baltic-political-geography-76
- https://www.britannica.com/place/Siberia
- https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-siberia-1435483
FAQ
1. What is Siberia and where is it located?
Siberia is a vast region in Russia that occupies most of Northern Asia. It is bordered by the Ural Mountains to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. Siberia covers an area of over 5 million square miles, making it one of the largest regions in the world.
2. How is the climate in Siberia?
Siberia is known for its extremely cold winters, with temperatures dropping well below freezing. In some parts of Siberia, the temperature can reach as low as -60 degrees Celsius (-76 degrees Fahrenheit). Summers in Siberia are short and cool, with temperatures rarely exceeding 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).
3. What are the major geographical features of Siberia?
Siberia is characterized by its vast plains, taiga forests, and mountain ranges. The region is home to the Siberian Plain, the world’s largest expanse of flat land. It also includes the Siberian Plateau, which is located in the central part of Siberia and is covered in permafrost.
4. What is the population density in Siberia?
Siberia is one of the least densely populated regions in the world. The population density varies across the region, with some areas having very few inhabitants. The majority of the population is concentrated in the southern parts of Siberia, particularly in cities such as Novosibirsk and Omsk.
5. What are the natural resources found in Siberia?
Siberia is rich in natural resources, including oil, natural gas, coal, and minerals such as gold and diamonds. These resources have played a significant role in the economic development of the region and have attracted both domestic and foreign investments.
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