Extending north to south through western Russia, the Ural Mountains formed from the collision of two proto-continents, some 250-300 million years ago. Since eroded to a relatively low but rugged chain of peaks and ridges, the Urals stretch for more than 1500 miles, from the Kara Sea to the Ural River Valley; the latter flows through the semiarid steppes of northern Kazakhstan. While the highest peaks are only in the range of 6200 feet, the varied ecosystems of the Urals make them of special interest to naturalists; geographers are also enamored with this range, traditionally accepted to be the border between Europe and Asia.
The northernmost Urals, which extend into the Kara Sea as a chain of islands, are heavily glaciated; possessing a Polar climate, this region is sparsely vegetated and native wildlife, typical of the Arctic, include snowy owls, lemmings, arctic fox, reindeer and rock ptarmigan. In the middle Urals, where the highest summits are located, rich, coniferous forests cloak the mountains, home to elk, brown bear, wolves, wolverines, lynx and sable. Further south, deciduous forests predominate, giving way to semiarid grasslands of the Kazak steppes; among the unique wildlife in these drier areas are susliks, a species of ground squirrel, and jerboas, nocturnal jumping rodents that inhabit desert regions across the globe.
The mountains, themselves, are composed of metamorphosed sediments of the early to mid Paleozoic Era; volcanic basalts are also present, especially along the eastern slope of the range. The southern Urals drain to the Caspian Sea via the Ural River while the central and northern Urals drain to the Kara Sea of the Arctic Ocean; the Pechora River rises along the western slope, coursing through karst landscapes on its way to the Sea while the Ob River and its tributaries drain the eastern slope. Rich in minerals, precious metals and semi-precious stones, the Ural Mountains have long been exploited by human civilizations; fortunately, their harsh climate and rugged terrain have served to protect a wide diversity of plants and animals.
