Physiography
Mount Narodnaya, Ural Mountains, Russia. Discover the rugged terrain of the Urals.
The Ural Mountains, a significant Eurasian range, are conventionally divided into five distinct sections, each possessing unique physiographic characteristics. Beginning in the north, the Polar Urals stretch approximately 240 miles (400 km) from Mount Konstantinov Kamen in the northeast to the Khulga River in the southeast. In this section, the majority of peaks range between 3,300 and 3,600 feet (1,000–1,100 metres) above sea level. Mount Payer, the highest point in the Polar Urals, reaches an elevation of 4,829 feet (1,472 metres).
Moving southward, the Nether-Polar Urals extend for over 140 miles (225 km) to the Shchugor River. This segment boasts the highest elevations within the entire Ural range, featuring peaks like Mount Narodnaya, which reaches 6,217 feet (1,895 metres), and Mount Karpinsk, at 6,161 feet (1,878 metres). The Polar and Nether-Polar Urals share an Alpine character, marked by the presence of glaciers and significant permafrost features, indicative of their harsh, high-altitude environment.
The Nurgush Range in the Southern Ural Mountains, Russia. Discover the diverse landscapes of the Ural Mountain range.Continuing southwards are the Northern Urals, extending more than 340 miles (550 km). Here, most mountains exceed 3,300 feet (1,000 metres), with Mount Telpos-Iz standing as the highest peak at 5,305 feet (1,617 metres). Many summits in this region exhibit a flattened appearance, remnants of ancient peneplains uplifted by relatively recent geological activity. In the northern reaches of the Northern Urals, intense weathering has created extensive “seas of stone” across mountain slopes and summits, showcasing the powerful erosional forces at play.
The Central Urals, located further south and stretching over 200 miles (320 km) to the Ufa River, are significantly lower in elevation. They rarely surpass 1,600 feet (500 metres), although Mount Sredny Baseg, the highest peak, reaches 3,261 feet (994 metres). The summits in this section are generally smooth, punctuated by isolated residual outcrops, indicating a more subdued topography compared to the northern sections.
Finally, the Southern Urals, the southernmost section, extend approximately 340 miles (550 km) to the westward bend of the Ural River. This area comprises several parallel ridges reaching up 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 lower uplands of the Mughalzhar Hills, which are below 2,000 feet (600 metres), marking the range’s southern termination.
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 are common features, and north–south troughs of limestone are prevalent, often containing river valleys. Karst topography, characterized by caves, basins, and underground streams, is highly developed on the western slopes. In contrast, the eastern slopes exhibit fewer karst formations, with rocky outliers rising above flattened surfaces. Broad foothills, reduced to peneplain, border the Central and Southern Urals to the east, further illustrating the varied geological processes that have shaped this mountain range.
Geology
The Ural Mountains owe their origin to the Hercynian orogeny, a period of intense structural upheaval approximately 250 million years ago. Around 280 million years ago, a high mountainous region emerged, which subsequently eroded into a peneplain. Alpine folding processes later led to the formation of new mountains, with the Nether-Polar Urals experiencing the most significant uplift.
The Ural-Tau Anticlinorium, a major rock formation of arches and troughs, lies within the watershed region and represents the largest such structure in the Urals. To its west in the Southern Urals is the Bashkir Anticlinorium. Both are composed of thick layers (up to four miles) of ancient metamorphic rocks—gneisses, quartzites, and schists—dating back 570 to 395 million years. These formations reveal a long and complex geological history.
The western slope of the Urals is primarily composed of middle Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, including sandstones and limestones approximately 350 million years old. In many areas, the western slope descends in terraces towards the Cis-Ural depression to the west, which accumulated eroded material during the late Paleozoic period (around 300 million years ago). This region is characterized by widespread karst formations and gypsum deposits, featuring large caverns and subterranean streams, highlighting the soluble nature of the bedrock.
On the eastern slope, volcanic layers alternate with sedimentary strata, all from the middle Paleozoic era. These rocks form the Tagil-Magnitogorsk Synclinorium, another large geological structure in the Urals. In the Central and Southern Urals, the eastern slope gradually merges into broad peneplained foothills. Outcrops of granite and uniquely shaped buttes are common in these foothills. Further north, the peneplain is covered by loose deposits from the West Siberian Plain, indicating a transition into a different geological regime.
Drainage
Rivers originating in the Ural Mountains drain into either the Arctic Ocean or the Caspian Sea, reflecting the range’s continental divide position. The Pechora River, draining the western slopes of the Polar, Nether-Polar, and part of the Northern Urals, flows into the Barents Sea. Its major tributaries include the Ilych, Shchugor, and Usa rivers. Conversely, almost all rivers on the eastern slope belong to the Ob River system, ultimately emptying into the Kara Sea. 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 significant portion of the western slope, with the Vishera, Chusovaya, and Belaya rivers all contributing to its flow. The Ural River, along with its tributary the Sakmara, flows along the Southern Urals, characterizing the drainage pattern of this region.
The topography and climate strongly influence the characteristics of the Ural rivers and lakes. In their upper courses, many rivers flow slowly through wide, longitudinal troughs within the mountains. Further downstream, they shift to a latitudinal direction, cutting through ridges in narrow valleys as they descend to the plains, especially in the Northern and Southern Urals. Interestingly, the main watershed does not always align with the highest ridges. For example, the Chusovaya and Ufa rivers in 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, particularly in the Northern and Nether-Polar Urals. The eastern slope of the Southern Urals experiences the slowest flow rates, attributable to both high evaporation and low precipitation in this area. River freeze-over is common in winter, lasting five months in the south and up to seven months in the north, reflecting the latitudinal climate gradient.
Lakes are abundant, particularly on the eastern slope of the Southern and Central Urals. Major lakes include Uvildy, Itkul, Turgoyak, and Tavatuy. Small karst lakes are found on the western slope. In the Polar Urals, glacial lakes are present in glacial valleys, with Lake Bolshoye Shchuchye being the deepest at 446 feet (136 metres). Many lakes, such as Moltayevo, contain medicinal muds, leading to the establishment of spas and sanatoriums, highlighting the diverse resources associated with the Ural drainage systems.
