The Ural Mountains, a majestic range stretching through Russia, present a fascinating study in physical geography. Often referred to in the context of “Euro Mountains Russia” due to their proximity to the European continent and their role in forming a natural boundary, these mountains are rich in diverse landscapes, geological history, and unique drainage systems. Let’s delve into the physical features of this remarkable mountain range.
Physiography of the Urals: Dividing the Landscape
Mount Narodnaya Summit in the Ural Mountains, Russia
Mount Narodnaya, the highest peak in the Ural Mountains, West Central Russia, showcasing the alpine characteristics of the range.
The Ural Mountains are conventionally divided into five distinct sections, each exhibiting unique physiographic characteristics. Beginning from the north, we encounter the Polar Urals, extending for approximately 240 miles (400 km) from Mount Konstantinov Kamen in the northeast to the Khulga River in the southeast. This section is characterized by mountains generally ranging from 3,300 to 3,600 feet (1,000–1,100 metres) in height. Mount Payer, the highest point in the Polar Urals, reaches an impressive 4,829 feet (1,472 metres).
Moving southward, the Nether-Polar Urals unfold for over 140 miles (225 km) down to the Shchugor River. This segment is home to the highest elevations across the entire Ural range. Here, Mount Narodnaya stands as the pinnacle at 6,217 feet (1,895 metres), closely followed by Mount Karpinsk at 6,161 feet (1,878 metres). Both the Polar and Nether-Polar Urals exhibit typical alpine landscapes, marked by the presence of glaciers and significant permafrost features, reflecting their harsh, high-altitude environments.
Further south lies the Northern Urals, stretching over 340 miles (550 km). The mountains in this section predominantly reach heights exceeding 3,300 feet (1,000 metres), with Mount Telpos-Iz being the highest summit at 5,305 feet (1,617 metres). A notable feature of the Northern Urals is their flattened summits. These are remnants of ancient peneplains, vast, gently undulating eroded surfaces that were uplifted by recent geological tectonic activity. In the northern parts of this section, intense weathering has led to extensive “seas of stone,” covering mountain slopes and summits with rocky debris.
Nurgush Range in the Southern Ural Mountains, Russia, displaying typical ridge formations.
Nurgush Range, part of the Southern Ural Mountains in Russia, illustrating the diverse terrain of the region.
The Central Urals, extending southward for more than 200 miles (320 km) to the Ufa River, are significantly lower in elevation. They rarely exceed 1,600 feet (500 metres), although Mount Sredny Baseg, the highest peak, reaches 3,261 feet (994 metres). The summits in the Central Urals are smooth and rounded, punctuated by isolated residual outcrops of rock.
Finally, the Southern Urals stretch for approximately 340 miles (550 km) to the westward bend of the Ural River. This section is composed of several parallel ridges that rise to 3,900 feet (1,200 metres), culminating in Mount Yamantau at 5,380 feet (1,640 metres). The Southern Urals eventually transition into the expansive, lower uplands of the Mughalzhar Hills, which are below 2,000 feet (600 metres).
Rock composition plays a crucial role in shaping the Ural topography. The higher ranges and broad-topped ridges are composed of weather-resistant rocks such as quartzites, schists, and gabbro. Buttes, isolated steep-sided hills, are common features. North-south troughs of limestone are also present, often containing river valleys. Karst topography, characterized by caves, basins, and underground streams, is prominently developed on the western slopes of the Urals. In contrast, the eastern slopes exhibit fewer karst formations, instead featuring rocky outliers rising above flattened surfaces. Broad foothills, eroded to a peneplain, border the Central and Southern Urals to the east, further shaping the landscape.
Geology of the Ural Mountains: A History of Uplift
The geological history of the Ural Mountains dates back to the Hercynian orogeny, a period of mountain building around 250 million years ago. Approximately 280 million years ago, a high mountain region emerged, which subsequently eroded into a peneplain. Later Alpine folding processes led to the formation of new mountains, with the most significant uplift occurring in the Nether-Polar Urals.
The Ural-Tau Anticlinorium, a major rock formation of arches and troughs that itself forms a large arch, is situated in the watershed region and represents the largest such structure in the Urals. To its west in the Southern Urals lies the Bashkir Anticlinorium. Both are composed of thick layers, sometimes reaching four miles, of ancient metamorphic rocks. These include gneisses, quartzites, and schists, dating back 570 to 395 million years.
The western slope of the Urals is primarily composed of middle Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, such as sandstones and limestones, approximately 350 million years old. In many areas, it descends in terraces towards the Cis-Ural depression to the west. This depression accumulated eroded material during the late Paleozoic period, around 300 million years ago. This region features extensive karst formations and gypsum deposits, with large caverns and subterranean streams. The eastern slope, in contrast, shows an alternation of volcanic and sedimentary strata, all from the middle Paleozoic era. These rocks form the Tagil-Magnitogorsk Synclinorium, a large trough-like geological structure. In the Central and Southern Urals, the eastern slope merges into broad peneplained foothills, characterized by granite outcrops and uniquely shaped buttes. Further north, this peneplain is buried under loose deposits from the West Siberian Plain.
Drainage Systems: Rivers Flowing to Arctic and Caspian Seas
Pechora River flowing through the Russian Taiga
The Pechora River, pictured flowing through the taiga of northwestern Russia, exemplifies the Ural drainage system towards the Arctic.
Rivers originating in the Ural Mountains ultimately drain into either the Arctic Ocean or the Caspian Sea, reflecting the range’s continental position. The Pechora River, draining the western slopes of the Polar, Nether-Polar, and part of the Northern Urals, flows into the Barents Sea, an arm of the Arctic Ocean. Its major tributaries include the Ilych, Shchugor, and Usa rivers. Almost all rivers on the eastern slope are part of the Ob River system, eventually emptying into the Kara Sea, also within the Arctic Ocean. Notable rivers in this system are the Tobol, Iset, Tura, Tavda, Severnaya Sosva, and Lyapin.
The Kama River (a Volga tributary) and the Ural River belong to the Caspian Sea drainage basin. The Kama collects water from a large portion of the western slope, with tributaries such as the Vishera, Chusovaya, and Belaya rivers feeding into it. The Ural River, with its tributary the Sakmara, flows along the Southern Urals.
The topography and climate significantly influence the character of the Ural rivers and lakes. In their upper courses within the mountains, many rivers flow slowly through wide, longitudinal troughs. As they progress, they often change direction to a latitudinal flow, cutting through ridges in narrow valleys before descending to the plains, particularly in the Northern and Southern Urals. Interestingly, the main watershed doesn’t always align with the highest ridges. For example, the Chusovaya and Ufa rivers of the Central and Southern Urals, which eventually join the Volga drainage basin, originate on the eastern slope.
Rivers on the western slope generally carry more water than those on the east, especially in the Northern and Nether-Polar Urals. The eastern slope of the Southern Urals experiences the slowest flow rates, attributable to higher evaporation and lower precipitation in that region. Rivers in the Urals freeze over in winter for five months in the south and up to seven months in the north, reflecting the continental climate.
Lakes are abundant, particularly on the eastern slope of the Southern and Central Urals. The largest include Uvildy, Itkul, Turgoyak, and Tavatuy. The western slope is home to numerous smaller karst lakes. In the Polar Urals, glacial lakes are found in valleys, with Lake Bolshoye Shchuchye being the deepest at 446 feet (136 metres). Many lakes, such as Moltayevo, are known for their medicinal muds, leading to the establishment of spas and sanatoriums in the region, capitalizing on these natural resources.
