The South Siberian Mountains () are one of the largest mountain systems in

North Asia North Asia or Northern Asia () is the northern region of Asia, which is defined in geography, geographical terms and consists of three federal districts of Russia: Ural Federal District, Ural, Siberian Federal District, Siberian, and the Far E ...

. The total area of the system of mountain ranges is more than 1.5 million km². The South Siberian Mountains are located in the

Siberian Siberia ( ; , ) is an extensive geographical region comprising all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has formed a part of the sovereign territory of Russia and its predecessor states si ...

and

Far Eastern Federal District The Far Eastern Federal District ( rus, Дальневосточный федеральный округ, p=dəlʲnʲɪvɐˈstot͡ɕnɨj fʲɪdʲɪˈralʲnɨj ˈokrʊk) is the largest and the least populated federal districts of Russia, federa ...

s of

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

, as well as partly in

Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...

. The territory of the mountain system is one of the

Great Russian Regions The Great Russian Regions are eight geomorphological regions of the Russian Federation displaying characteristic forms of relief. Seven of them are parts of Siberia, located east of the Ural Mountains. Geography * Central Siberian Plateau, ...

Geography

The system is composed of a number of ranges aligned in an east–west direction stretching for almost . Part of them are near the border with

and China, while others rise further north. To the south the South Siberian ranges merge with the Mongolian and Chinese mountain chains and plateaus. In the west lies the

Dzungarian Basin The Junggar Basin (), also known as the Dzungarian Basin or Zungarian Basin, is one of the largest sedimentary basins in Northwest China. It is located in Dzungaria in northern Xinjiang, and enclosed by the Tarbagatai Mountains of Kazakhstan in ...

and to the east the Mongolian Plateau. To the north the South Siberian Mountains merge with the

West Siberian Lowland The West Siberian Plain () is a large plain that occupies the western portion of Siberia, between the Ural Mountains in the west and the Yenisei River in the east, and the Altai Mountains on the southeast. Much of the plain is poorly drained an ...

and the

Central Siberian Plateau The Central Siberian Plateau (; ) is a vast mountainous area in Siberia, one of the Great Russian Regions. Geography The plateau occupies a great part of central Siberia between the Yenisei and Lena rivers. It is located in the Siberian Plat ...

, both on the Russian side. To the southeast the

Baikal Range The Baikal Mountains or Baikal Range (, ''Baykalskiy khrebet''; , ''Baigalai dabaan'') are a mountain range that rises steeply over the northwestern shore of Lake Baikal in southern Siberia, Russia. The highest peak in the range is 2,572 m high ...

is separated from the

Eastern Sayan The Sayan Mountains (, ; ) are a mountain range in southern Siberia spanning southeastern Russia (Buryatia, Irkutsk Oblast, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Tuva and Khakassia) and northern Mongolia. Before the rapid expansion of the Tsardom of Russia, the mou ...

by the

Baikal Rift Zone The Baikal Rift Zone is a series of continental rifts centered beneath Lake Baikal in southeastern Russia. Current strain in the rifts tends to be extending with some shear movement. A series of basins form along the zone for more than , creatin ...

and the

Tunkin Depression Tunkin Depression is a volcanic field in Russia. The Tunkin Depression itself is a tectonic depression, part of the Baikal Rift Zone, between Lake Baikal and Khövsgöl Nuur. The depression consists of a number of basins and is covered by alluv ...

. To the northeast of its eastern end the South Siberian mountain system merges with the

East Siberian Mountains The East Siberian Mountains or East Siberian Highlands () are one of the largest mountain systems of the Russia, Russian Federation. They are located between the Central Yakutian Lowland and the Bering Strait in Northeast Siberia. The area of th ...

.''(Mountains of South Siberia)''
(in Russian) from: Gvozdetsky N. A., Mikhailov N. I. ''Physical geography of the USSR.'' M., Thought, 1978. Geologically the mountains of the system underwent a process of rejuvenation during the

Alpine orogeny The Alpine orogeny, sometimes referred to as the Alpide orogeny, is an orogenic phase in the Late Mesozoic and the current Cenozoic which has formed the mountain ranges of the Alpide belt. Cause The Alpine orogeny was caused by the African c ...

Earthquakes An earthquakealso called a quake, tremor, or tembloris the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from those so weak they c ...

are common all across the area of the system.Altai-Sayan Mountain Country
(in Russian) Owing to the mountainous terrain, large swathes of the South Siberian system are uninhabited. The main cities of the vast region are, from west to east:

Krasnoyarsk Krasnoyarsk is the largest types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. It is situated along the Yenisey, Yenisey River, and is the second-largest city in Siberia after Novosibirsk, with a p ...

Angarsk Angarsk ( rus, Ангарск, p=ɐnˈgarsk) is a city and the administrative center of Angarsky District of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Kitoy River, from Irkutsk, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: History Ang ...

Irkutsk Irkutsk ( ; rus, Иркутск, p=ɪrˈkutsk; Buryat language, Buryat and , ''Erhüü'', ) is the largest city and administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. With a population of 587,891 Irkutsk is the List of cities and towns in Russ ...

Ulan-Ude Ulan-Ude (; , ; , ) is the capital city of Buryatia, Russia, located about southeast of Lake Baikal on the Uda River, Buryatia, Uda River at its confluence with the Selenga River, Selenga. According to the Russian Census (2021), 2021 Census, 43 ...

and Chita.

Google Earth Google Earth is a web mapping, web and computer program created by Google that renders a 3D computer graphics, 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposition, superimposing satelli ...

Ranges

Altai Mountains The Altai Mountains (), also spelled Altay Mountains, are a mountain range in Central Asia, Central and East Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan converge, and where the rivers Irtysh and Ob River, Ob have their headwaters. The ...

** Saylyugem Mountains **

Chuya Belki Chuya Belki (, ''Chuyskye byelki'') is a mountainous region in the Altai, Altai Republic, Russia. There are a number of glaciers on the northern part of the slopes of the main ridges. The Chuya Belki are named after the Chuya River and after the ...

Kuray Mountains The Kuray Mountains are a mountain range in the Altai Republic, Russia. Description Bounded to the south by the Kuray and Chuya Basins, the Kuray mountains form the northern part of a metamorphic dome complex. The highest peak is Tydtuyaryk at ...

Salair Ridge Salair Ridge (pronounced ''sah-lah-EER''; is a plateau-type highland in Altai Krai, Kemerovo Oblast and Novosibirsk Oblast, Russian Federation. There are ski resorts in the mountains. The Salair National Park is a protected area in the wester ...

Kuznetsk Alatau Kuznetsk Alatau () is a mountain range in southern Siberia, Russia. The range rises in the Altai-Sayan region of the South Siberian Mountains, northwest of Mongolia. The Siberian Railway skirts the northern limit of the range. Geography ...

** Koshkulak (mountain range) ** Kharatas ridge ** Sunduki mountain range *

Sayan Mountains The Sayan Mountains (, ; ) are a mountain range in southern Siberia spanning southeastern Russia (Buryatia, Irkutsk Oblast, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Tuva and Khakassia) and northern Mongolia. Before the rapid expansion of the Tsardom of Russia, the mou ...

( Western and Eastern ) **

Ergaki Ergaki (Russian: Ергаки) is a mountain range in the Western Sayan Mountains in southern Siberia, Russia.''Ergak-Targak-Taiga'' / Great Soviet Encyclopedia; in 35 vols. / Ch. ed. Yu. S. Osipov. 2004—2017. Ergaki Nature Park is a protected ...

** Kitoy Range **

Kropotkin Range (Eastern Sayan) Kropotkin Range () is a mountain range in Okinsky District, Buryatia, Russian Federation.Google Earth Geography The Kropotkin Range is part of the Eastern Sayan mountains. It rises at the western end of Buryatia, to the northwest of the Oka (Ang ...

* Tannu Ola *

* Khamar Daban *

Ulan-Burgas Ulan-Burgas (; , from ''улаан'' - "red", and ''бургааһан'', "small birch" or "shrub"),Barguzin Range Barguzin Range () is a range in Buryatia, Russia along the northeastern shore of Baikal. Its length is 280 km, height up to 2,840 m. It is mostly covered by larch taiga. The range bounds the Barguzin Valley on the northwest. A part of the ...

Yablonoi Mountains The Yablonoi Mountains or Yablonovy Mountains (, , ; , ''Yablony nuruu'') are a mountain range, in Transbaikal (mainly in Zabaykalsky Krai), Siberia, Russia. The range is sparsely inhabited with most settlements engaged in mining. The area is e ...

Chersky Range (Transbaikalia) The Chersky Range () is a mountain range in the Transbaikal Region (Zabaykalsky Krai) of Siberia, Russia. The range rises east of the city of Chita. It is named after explorer Jan Czerski and was formerly known as "Alentuy Range". Geography T ...

Olyokma-Stanovik The Olyokma-Stanovik (; ''Olyokminsky Stanovik'') is a system of mountain ranges in Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia. The western end of the range reaches into Amur Oblast.

Khentei-Daur Highlands The Khentei-Daur Highlands, also known as the Khentei-Chikoi Highlands, are a mountainous area in Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia. Owing to a number of factors such as tectonic faults, Fracture (geology), rock fissuring, and density of river networks, ...

** Khentei Range **

Chikokon Range The Chikokon Range () is a mountain range in the Transbaikal Region (Zabaykalsky Krai) of Siberia, Russia. The range is named after the Chikokon River, a small left tributary of the Chikoy River. The Chikokon Range is within the limits of the ...

Stanovik Range The Stanovik () is a mountain range in the Transbaikal Region (Zabaykalsky Krai) of Siberia, Russia. The southern end of the range is very close to the border with Mongolia. The nearest village is Mordoy (Мордой), Kyrinsky District. The r ...

Ikat Range Ikat Range () is a mountain range in Buryatia, Russia. It runs in a parallel direction to the Baikal Rift. The range is named after two small rivers sharing the name "Ikat" which have their sources in opposite slopes of the range one is a tribut ...

Vitim Plateau Vitim Plateau is a plateau in Buryatia and Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia. The plateau is sparsely populated; the main settlements are Romanovka, Republic of Buryatia, Romanovka and Bagdarin. An area of the plateau is an ancient volcanic field with a ...

Bolshoy Khapton The Bolshoy Khapton () is a mountain range in Bauntovsky District, Buryatia, Russia. The nearest airport is Bagdarin Airport.Google Earth Geography This mountain range is located in the northeastern part of the Vitim Plateau. It stretches from s ...

Selenga Highlands The Selenga Highlands () are a mountainous area in Buryatia and the southwestern end of Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia. The Highlands are named after the Selenga River. Protected areas in the Highlands include the Baikal Nature Reserve and the Altach ...

Stanovoy Highlands The Stanovoy Highlands () or Stanovoy Uplands is a mountain range in the Transbaikal region of Siberia, Russia. Geography The Stanovoy Highlands are a mountainous area between the Patom Highlands to the north and the Vitim Plateau to the south. ...

Kalar Range The Kalar Range () is a mountain range in Zabaykalsky Krai and the NW end of Amur Oblast, Russian Federation. The highest point of the range is high Skalisty Golets. Google Earth The range is part of the Udokan Ore Region that includes the Kod ...

Udokan Range The Udokan Range () is a mountain range in Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and Zabaykalsky Krai, Russian Federation. The nearest town is Chara (rural locality), Chara.Google Earth There is copper mining in the range at the Udokan mine, part of the Ud ...

Kodar Range The Kodar Mountains () are a mountain range in the Transbaikal region of Siberia, Russia. The name Kodar is derived from "khada", an Evenki language, Evenki word for rock. The range is part of the Udokan Ore Region that includes the Kalar Range, ...

Delyun-Uran Range The Delyun-Uran Range () is a mountain range in Irkutsk Oblast and Buryatia, Russia, part of the Stanovoy Highlands. The nearest airport is Bodaybo Airport.Google Earth History This remote mountain area was first explored by Peter Kropotkin a ...

Northern Muya Range The Northern Muya Range () is a mountain range in Buryatia, Russia, part of the Stanovoy Highlands.Google Earth The Baikal Amur Mainline (BAM) railway traverses the southern end of the mountain range via the Severomuysky Tunnel. Geography The N ...

Southern Muya Range The Southern Muya Range () is a mountain range in Buryatia and Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia, part of the Stanovoy Highlands. The highest point of the range is 3,067 m high Muisky Gigant; another important peak is 2363 m high Mount Shaman. Google Earth ...

North Baikal Highlands The North Baikal Highlands (; )
''

Akitkan Range The Akitkan Range (; zh, 阿基特坎山) is a mountain range in Irkutsk Oblast and Buryatia, Russian Federation.Google Earth The Paleoproterozoic Akitkan Orogen is named after the range. History Between 1855 and 1858 Ivan Stepanovich Kryzhin, I ...

** Synnyr Massif **

Upper Angara Range The Upper Angara Range () is a mountain range in Buryatia and Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, part of the Stanovoy Highlands.Google Earth The Baikal–Amur Mainline passes at the foot of the southern side of the range. Geography The range stretches from ...

Patom Highlands The Patom Highlands () are a mountainous area in Eastern Siberia, Russia. Administratively most of the territory of the uplands is part of Irkutsk Oblast, with a smaller section in northern Zabaykalsky Krai.Google Earth There are large deposits o ...

** Kropotkin Range *

Olyokma-Chara Plateau The Olyokma-Chara Plateau (; ) is a mountainous area in the Sakha Republic and Irkutsk Oblast, Far Eastern Federal District, Russia.Google Earth A small section is in Kalarsky District, northernmost Zabaykalsky Krai. Charoite, a rare mineral, ...

Aldan Highlands The Aldan Highlands, or Aldan Plateau (; ) are a mountainous area in the Sakha Republic, Far Eastern Federal District, Russia. Aldan town and Tommot are located in the northern area of the highlands and Chulman in the south.Google Earth The ...

Sunnagyn Range The Sunnagyn Range (), also known as Aldan-Uchur (; ), is a range of mountains in North-eastern Russia. Administratively the range is part of the Sakha Republic, Russian Federation.

Stanovoy Range The Stanovoy Range (, ''Stanovoy khrebet''; ) is a mountain range located in the Sakha Republic and Amur Oblast, Far Eastern Federal District. It is also known as Sükebayatur and Sükhbaatar in Mongolian language, Mongolian, or the Stanovoy M ...

Toko-Stanovik The Toko-Stanovik (, ''Tokinsky Stanovik'') is a range of mountains in the Russian Far East. Administratively it belongs partly to Amur Oblast, the Sakha Republic Sakha, officially the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), is a republics of Russia, ...

Primorsky Range The Primorsky Range () is a range of mountains in Southern Siberia, part of the South Siberian Mountains. Administratively the range belongs to the Irkutsk Oblast, Russian Federation. The settlement of Buguldeyka, Olkhonsky District, is located ...

Hydrography

Some of the main rivers of Siberia have their origin in the South Siberian mountain system, such as the

Lena Lena or LENA may refer to: Places * Léna Department, a department of Houet Province in Burkina Faso * Lena, Manitoba, an unincorporated community located in Killarney-Turtle Mountain municipality in Manitoba, Canada * Lena, Norway, a village in ...

Irtysh The Irtysh is a river in Russia, China, and Kazakhstan. It is the chief tributary of the Ob (river), Ob and is also the longest tributary in the world. The river's source lies in the Altai Mountains, Mongolian Altai in Dzungaria (the northern p ...

, the

Yenisei The Yenisey or Yenisei ( ; , ) is the fifth-longest river system in the world, and the largest to drain into the Arctic Ocean. Rising in Mungaragiyn-gol in Mongolia, it follows a northerly course through Lake Baikal and the Krasnoyarsk Dam b ...

and the

Ob River The Ob (; ) is a major river in Russia. It is in western Siberia, and with its tributary the Irtysh forms the world's seventh-longest river system, at . The Ob forms at the confluence of the Biya and Katun which have their origins in the Alta ...

. Other rivers of the area are the Argun,

Tom Tom or TOM may refer to: * Tom (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name. Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tom'' (1973 film), or ''The Bad Bunch'', a blaxploitation film * ''Tom'' (2002 film) ...

, Shilka,

Selenga The Selenga ( ) or Selenge is a major river in Mongolia and Buryatia, Russia. Originating from its headwater tributaries, the Ider and the Delger mörön, it flows for before draining into Lake Baikal. The Selenga therefore makes up the most d ...

, Katun and the

Biya River The Biya (; , ''Biy'') is a river in the Altai Republic and Altai Krai in Russia. At its confluence with the Katun, downstream of the city Biysk, the Ob is formed. The Biya is 301 km long; the area of its drainage basin A drainage bas ...

. The great

Lake Baikal Lake Baikal is a rift lake and the deepest lake in the world. It is situated in southern Siberia, Russia between the Federal subjects of Russia, federal subjects of Irkutsk Oblast, Irkutsk Oblasts of Russia, Oblast to the northwest and the Repu ...

is the most well-known lake of the region. Other much smaller lakes are

Lake Teletskoye Lake Teletskoye (; ) is the largest lake in the Altai Mountains and the Altai Republic, Russia, and has depth up to 325 meters. Situated at a height of above the sea level, the lake is long and wide and lies between the mountain ridges Korbu ...

Lake Markakol Lake Markakol (, ''Marqaköl''; , ozero Markakol') is a lake and popular tourist destination in East Kazakhstan. The lake is fed with small rivers and streams. Its coasts are cut up by gulfs. It is the largest lake in the Katonkaragay District o ...

, Lake Todzha (Azas),

Baunt Baunt (; , ''Baunt nuur'') is the name of a body of fresh water in the Bauntovsky District, Buryatia, Russia. The village of Kurort Baunt, where there are some hot springs, is located on the southwestern shore of the lake, at the foot of Mt Bol ...

and Noyon-Khol.

References

{{Reflist

Geography

Ranges

Hydrography

See also

References