Urals

The Urals are a major mountain range in Russia that stretch for about 2,500 kilometers from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the border with Kazakhstan in the south. They form a broad, gently arched backbone that marks the traditional boundary between the European and Asian parts of Russia. The range is commonly divided into Northern, Middle, and Southern Urals, and it passes through several administrative regions, including Bashkortostan, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Perm Krai, and Orenburg Oblasts.

Geologically, the Urals are among the oldest mountain belts in the world. They were largely formed during the Uralian orogeny, around 300 to 250 million years ago, through the collision and accretion of terranes as the supercontinent Pangaea assembled. The range is relatively low compared with many young mountain systems, with elevations typically around 1,000 to 1,800 meters; the highest peak is Narodnaya, near 1,895 meters. The rocks include a mix of sedimentary, volcanic, and metamorphic units, reflecting a long and complex tectonic history.

Natural resources are a hallmark of the Urals. The region is rich in iron ore and other metals such as copper and nickel, supporting a long-standing metallurgical industry that developed from the 18th century onward. Major mining and steel-producing towns, including Magnitogorsk, Nizhny Tagil, and surrounding districts, have shaped the economic landscape of the Russian interior.

Ecologically, the Urals cover varied climates and biomes, from taiga in the north to mixed forests in the south, with numerous rivers and sparse highland ecosystems. The mountains also serve as a historical and cultural landmark, symbolizing a natural dividing line between continents.