SIBERIA is the name of that part of the Russian empire which is in Asia, and extends from the Ural Mountains, which divide Europe from Asia, eastward to the sea. of Okhotsk and Kamtehatka, both of which are parts of the Pacific Ocean. It lies between 45* 30' and 77' 40' N. hit., 60' and 190' E. long. The most eastern point is East Cape, or Veatochinii Noss, which is only about 48 miles from Cape Prince of Wales in America, from which it is separated by tho narrowest part of Behring's Strait. The greatest length from east to west exceeds 3600 miles, and the greatest width from north to south is hardly less than 1950 miles. It is bounded E. by the Pacific Ocean, N. by the l'olar Sea, W. by the Ural Mountain; and S. by the Chinese empire and the steppes of the Khirghis Comaks. The basin of the Amur has recently been added to the Russian territories on the south. [Amax; Russia.] Sissface.—This immense country, which perhaps exceeds Europe in extent by upwards of a million square miles, presents little variety of surface. The western half, or that which lies west of the meridian of the North-East Cape (105' E. long.), may be described as nearly an unin terrupted plain. The eastern half, or that which lies east of 105' 1« long., contains numerous mountain ranges and hills, which occupy a great extent of country, between which some plains are inclosed. The mountain, in some places rise above the snow-line. The plains are at different elevations above the sea; the southern being perhaps 2000 feet above the sea-leeel, whilst the most northern are so low that a part of them is inundated during hard gales. We may describe the country in three portions, namely—Western, Central, and Eastern Siberia.
Western Siberia lies between the Ural Mountains (CO* E.Iong.)and 85' E. long., and the surface consists of one extensive plain. According to its reductive powers it may be divided Into five regions, the steppe, the agricultural district, the mining district, the wooded region, and the northern plain, or tundra. The Steppe comprehends the southern part of the plan] as far north as 55' N. lat., and extends from the base of the Ural Mountains to the banks of the river Irtish. It Ls called the Steppe of Ishim. Along Its south-eastern border lies a wide hilly tract, about 300 miles in width, of which only the northern portion belongs to Roods. The valleys which divide the more elevated portion, of the steppe generally consist of bare rocks without vegetation, and are partly covered with salt incrustations. The rivers have water in the cold hILOOD ; in the hot mama It is only found in a few places. The numerous small lakes have always • bitter or brackish water, and cannot be drunk. The vegetation consists only of artemisise, selsoloe, and salicornize. The more elevated tracts are covered with grass during the greater part of the year. But farther south, towards the higher ridge of the Oolutau, the country improves. Wells are more frequent at the foot of the hills, and though the grass grows only in tufts surrounded by a bare red-clay, it is tolerably abundant, and affords good pasture for the herds of the Khirghis Cossaks. There are a few tracts fit for agriculture. This hilly tract is separated from the Ural Mountains by a very level plain, which in these parts is only 300 miles wide, but farther north increases to double that width between 52° and 55°, where it occupies the whole country between the Ural Mountains and the Irtish River. This plain contains an immense number of email lakes, the water of which is brackish. The tracts which divide these lakes from one another, and rise a few feet above their level, have a soil consisting of sand or of yellow-clay, or of both together, and they support only a scanty vegetation. Many parts are covered with a salt efflorescence as white as snow, and produce several kinds of salicornire. The river 'shim runs slowly through a bottom never exceeding a mile in width : and on this narrow tract there are bushes and good pasture. The most fertile tracts lie round the lakes. In this steppe the summer is very hot, and the winter exceedingly cold ; the quantity of rain is small, and usually falls at the approach of winter. The Agricultural District extends north of the steppe, between the Ishim line of fortifications on the eouth and 60° N. lat. Between the rivers Irtish and Oby it advances as far south as 61° N. lat. This region presents a great diversity of soil and productions. In that part which is contiguous to the Ural Mountains, called the Steppe of Isset, the declivities of the mountains are overgrown with forests, and numerous rivers descend from their summits. As these rivers are abundantly supplied with water in
spring, they have excavated wide bottoms, which are covered with alluvial soil, and are comparatively fertile. Accordingly agriculture and the rearing of cattle are carried on to some extent. On the lower declivities of the Ural Mountains are numerous mines of iron and copper, in connection with which the extensive forests which cover the surface of the adjacent districts are exceedingly valuable. Of the country between the Tobol and the Irtish tho cultivable tracts are those which immediately adjoin the lakes. Farther north the surface is hilly, especially between the Tobol and Ishim; and the soil is not inferior to that on the west of the Tobol. Between the Ishim and Irtish the country is nearly a flat, but some what elevated above the watercourses. Its productive power is small. Between the Irtish and the Oby occurs the Steppe of Barabiuza, which is only well known where it is traversed by the road that leads from Tobolsk to Tomsk, and to the mining district. The soil is partly covered with swamps and lakes, several of which are of great extent, as those of 0obinskoi, Chany, and Chebakly : the more eleva ted tracts are traversed by many small rivers, which contain water all the year round. In most parts the surface ie a dead level, and without vegetation ; but in isolated spots it is covered with grass, and contains poplar and birch. The more elevated spots are frequently covered with a salt efflorescence, and the water of some of the lakes is brackish, especially those south of 54' N. lat. This tract is not much inhabited. The northern district of' the Steppe of Barabinza is covered with nearly continuous forests of firs and birch, on a very swampy soil. No agriculture is carried on, but wild animals are numerous, among which the beaver is considered the most valuable by the nomadic tribes that inhabit these forests and live chiefly ou the produce of the chem. The south-eastern angle of the Steppe of Barabinza contains a very remarkable depression, which begins about 20 miles due north of the town of Semipalatinsk, on the Irtish (50' 25' N. lat.), and extends in a north-north-east direction to the town of Bernaul, on the Oby (53' 20' N. lat.), a distance of more than 200 miles. The width varies between 20 and 30 miles. The whole tract is covered with fine fir-trees, which are very valuable for the mining operations married on at Bernaul and in the Altai Mountaius. The winters of the agricultural district are much colder than in Russia west of the UraL At Tobolak the thermometer every winter sinks to –25°, and sometimes to –30°, and it generally does not rim above –20" for four or six weeks together. The summer heat is very great. In July and August the thermometer usually rises to 85°, and even 90' after mid-day; but the nights are rather cold in comparison with other countries in which the daily temperature is as high. The Mining District extends over the south-eastern part of Western Siberia, and comprehends the most western portion of the ALTAI MOUNTAINS. The Wooded Region lies north of 60°, but, properly speaking, the northern portion of the Steppe of Barabinza, as far south as 57', ought to be included in it, as the general features are similar. The whole region is covered with a variety of species of pine and fir, and the birch is also common. No part of it is adapted to agriculture. A little rye and barley are cultivated, and some vege tables are grown. Fur-bearing animals abound in the district, and fish are obtained in considerable quantities iu the river Oby. The climate in winter is severe, but the heat in summer is very consider able. The most northern part. of Western Siberia Is a low plain, called the Tundra. The surface is nearly a dead level, and quite destitute of trees. Only a few shrubs occur, whose roots do not penetrate the ground, and even these are of stunted growth. Even in summer ice is found only a fcw iuchea under the avface. The soil is covered with moss, except in a few places where it is without v tation. There are many small lakes, generally well stocked with fish. But the wandering tribes which inhabit this country derive their subsistence partly from their large herds of tame and of reindeer, and from the sea animals with which the sea abounds along their coasts, especially the morseand the seal.