Ural Mountains Facts: Learn About This Russian Mountain Range

The Ural Mountains or simply called the Urals, are among the world's oldest known mountain peaks.

The Ural Mountains spans roughly north to south across western Russia, from the shore of the Arctic Ocean to the Ural River and Kazakhstan's northern region. Mount Narodnaya is the highest point of the Ural range.

The Ural Mountains are among the world's most mineral-rich locations, including over 1,000 different types of rare minerals. The 'Pre-Polar' and 'Polar Urals' are the northernmost regions of the Ural Mountains.

The northern mountain ranges are higher and have a more severe tundra-like atmosphere. The summer season is only for one month. The majority of the Polar Urals are barren.

Climate

The Ural Mountains have a continental climate, with temperature extremes that become more noticeable as one travels north to the south region and from west to east region.

The Arctic and North Atlantic waters have a cooling effect on the Pay-Khoy Range and the Polar Urals, especially in the winter season. Summer breezes of warm, low humid air from Central Asia blow across the Mughalzhar Hills as well as the Southern Ural Mountains. The majority of the winds are westward, bringing rainfall from the Atlantic Ocean.

Rainfall is most on the western slopes of the Nether-Polar and Northern Ural Mountains. There is less amount of moisture and snowfall on the eastern slope. The snow season lasts longer than the summer season on the eastern slope. Summer sees the most rainfall since the Siberian anticyclone's cool, dry air is most strong in the winter season.

Flora And Fauna

The Ural Mountains provide a wide variety of flora and fauna. The Urals feature a diverse landscape with steppes and forests prevailing. The southern and southeastern Urals are characterized by steppes, with meadow steppes appearing on lower elevations. Mountain and zigzag cloves, dropwort, and meadow grasses cover the bottom areas of the hillsides.

Brown bears, wolves, wolverines, and squirrels live in the Ural forests, which are characteristic of Siberia. Kidus, an uncommon hybrid of sable and pine marten, can be found in the Middle Ural forests. Black polecat is prevalent in the Southern Urals. Black grouse, cuckoos, and spotted nutcrackers are among the species of birds observed.

The Visim Nature Reserve is a goldmine of the benevolence of the Ural region. This is a spot where the Vogulsky Mansi used to hunt in untamed, protected primeval woodlands.

In 2001, UNESCO designated it as a Biosphere Reserve. At heights as low as 1,300 ft (400 m) in the Nether-Polar and Polar Urals, woodland gives way to mountain Tundra. The forests are usually varied, with coniferous taiga forests prevailing in the western and eastern areas, and deciduous forests prevailing in the south.

Geography Of Ural Mountains

The Russians found the northernmost section of the Urals towards the end of the 11th century, but the entire range was not found at the start of the 17th century when the Urals' mineral richness was revealed. During World War II, Soviet forces prepared to evacuate east of the Urals if the Nazi attack would succeed.

The Ural Range is a steep slope that runs from the Ural River to the Pay-Khoy Ridge, covering approximately 1,554 mi (2,500 km) from south to north. The mountain chain extends north to the islands of Vaygach and Novaya Zemlya. Central, Southern, Northern, Arctic (Polar), and Sub-Arctic (Nether-Polar) are the five primary divisions of the Ural Range.

From Mount Konstantinov Kamen in the northeast region to the Khulga River in the southeast area, the northern Polar Urals stretch for around 240 mi (385 km). The Nether-Polar Urals stretch approximately 140 mi (225 km) southward to the Shchugor River.

The highest peak in the hills is Mount Narodnaya, which reaches 6,217 ft (1,895 m). Additional mountains arose as a result of Alpine folding, with the Nether-Polar Urals experiencing the most dramatic disruption.

The Ural Mountains are the source of several rivers. The western slope of the Southern Urals transports more water than the eastern slope, notably in the Northern and Nether-Polar Urals. On the other hand, the eastern slope of the Southern Urals has the slowest speed of flow, owing to high evaporation and little precipitation.

On the eastern slope of Russia's southern Ural Mountains, the Ural River originates. The Ural River travels towards the south side for approximately 1,509 mi (2,428 km) before joining the Caspian Sea. The Central Urals is the range's lowest point, spreading 200 mi (320 km) southward to the Ufa River.

Many lakes, notably Uvildy Lake and Tavatuy Lakes, can be found on the eastern slope of the Southern Ural and the Central Ural. Lake Turgoyak is the deepest, cleanest, and most attractive lake on the western edge of the Ural region.

In the Polar Urals, glacier basins contain lakes, the deepest of which is Lake Bolshoye Shchuchye 446 ft (136 m).

The Urals Mountains feature oil and natural gas resources. Geography is shaped by geological compositions like gabbro and schists.

These compositions are weather-resistant and make up the high ranges and low, broad-topped slopes. Buttes abound, as do north-south limestone troughs, all of which feature river valleys. The Karst topography is set up on the western slopes of the Urals, along with basins, caves, and underground streams.

Conclusion

The Ural Mountains are a huge mountain range that is undoubtedly one of the most daunting in the world! The Urals are more than just rocky ridges and terrifying peaks.

Visit the Virgin Komy forests and witness a variety of wild animals. Photographers and winter sports lovers flock to it in large numbers. It is known as a skiing country with the highest ski slope reaching 3,840 ft (1,170 m).

FAQs

Why is the Ural Mountain important?

Metal ores and valuable stones are abundant in the Ural Mountains. These Mountains have played an important role in the Russian economy's mineral industry. 

What is the Ural famous for?

The Virgin Komi Forests in the Urals have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Copper, gold, aluminum, and coal are abundant in the highlands.

What animals live in the Ural Mountains?

During the summer, snowy owls, reindeer, wild ducks, and swans breed. The Urals' most diverse and abundant species, including the brown bear and wolverine, may be found in the forest areas.

What are the Ural Mountains?

The Urals constitute a physical boundary between Europe and Asia, rising like a long and narrow spine through the western region of Russia.

Which plains lie east of the Ural Mountains?

The Western Siberian Plain constitutes the eastern side of the Ural Mountains.

What part of Russia are the Ural Mountains located in?

The Ural Mountains are situated in the west-central region of Russia.

What two continents meet in Russia's Ural mountains?

Asia and Europe are the two continents that meet in Russia's Ural mountains.

Where are the Ural Mountains?

The Ural Mountains divide Europe from Asia. They span From the Arctic Ocean to the Russian-Kazakhastan border.