SIBERIA

former Ru ian territories in Asia (c. 42°-77° 35’ N., 60° E.-170° W.), stretches between Urals and Pacific, and between Arctic Ocean and Turkestan, Mongolia, Manchuria, and Korea. The great central plateau of E. is from 3,000 to 5,000 ft. high, with mountains rising above it to heights of over 7,000 ft.; from this the land slopes N. and W. to extensive plains. Principal parts of Mis., etween Yakutsk and Maritime Prove inces, and in Amur, in the E.; Verkoiansk, extend ing from the Stanovoi; Sayan and Altai Mts. in 8S. Of fourteen active chevskaya rises to 16,131 ft. Principal rivers are Obi, with affluent Lena, with affluent Vitim, Vilyui, and Aldan, all of which flow acro great plain to Arctic coast; and Amur, draining the S.E., all navigable in summer. Siberia has many lakes, of which Lake Baikal, in the S., is largest. Climate is continental, and generally resembles that of Canada; Verkhoian sk, {n N.E., ranges from 60° F. July, to -60° F. Jan. Precipitation occurs chiefly in summer; drought is not uncommon in many parts. See Map Asia. Natural resources are great; coal abundant, but of poor quality; gold, silver, lead, iron, copper, graphite, naphtha also exist, but have not been fully developed. There are enormous forests, stretching S. from Arctic tundras, and from N. of Tobolsk and Tomsk to E. Siberia—pine, fir, cedar, poplar, aspen, willow, birch. Grain is chief source of wealth and export, but meat, hides, wool, and dairy produce are also exported to considerable value. Fishing and hunting give remunerative occupation to many of the inhabitants. Fauna includes sables, foxes, bears, reindeer, and many other valuable fur-bearing animals. Siberian Ry. (constructed 1891-1905) from Ural Mts. to Vladivostok, has aided development of the land. Principal religion that of Ru ian Orthodox Church. Education is in backward state, only 12°3 per cent. of pop. being literate. Siberia was formerly used as penal settlement for Ru ian convicts and political prisoners, who have hindered development by Ru ian emigrants; latter numbered, 1906-13, 3,500,000; many in U uri valley. Pop. chiefly Ru ians, but there are tribes of Turk. and Mongolian stock, representing earlier inhabitants, and many Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans, especially in E. Siberia was divided for administrative purposes into the four governments of the six provinces of Amur, Kamand baikalia, Yakutsk. Largest towns are W. cap., Irkutsk, EK, cap., Tomsk, known of early history; in 1ith Little race established 2 kingdom here, but they were overcome by Mongol leader, in 13th cent. Khan, first entered Siberia in 16th Ru ians search of furs, and eventu ally cent., in of country was annexed to Ru ia. most territories were acquir ed from Further and 1860. In 1867 Alaska, China in 1858 of Siberia, was purcha sed by then part Ru o-Japanese War (see U.S. The 1904-5 limited Ru ian exp an Japan) in Manchuria. Ru ia and China sion in drew up agreement of Peking, 1913, concerning Mongolia, which had declared its independence of China in 1911. Soe Far Eastern REPUBLIC. Area, 4,831, 882 sq. m.; pop. 10,378,099. For events during World War, see Ru ta, History