Siberia is an extensive geographical region in North Asia, stretching from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has been part of Russia since the conquest of the Khanate of Sibir in 1582, and covers over 13.1 million square kilometers, making it vast and sparsely populated, but home to about a quarter of Russia’s population. Major cities include Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Omsk.
Siberia is not a political entity but a geographic and historic concept, with borders traditionally spanning from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and from the Arctic Circle in the north to the borders of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China in the south. The Russian government divides it into three federal districts, with only the central one officially called “Siberian.”
The region is known for its long, harsh winters, with January averages around −25 °C (−13 °F). Although located in Asia, Siberia is culturally and ethnically European due to Russian colonization since the 16th century. Over 85% of its population are of European descent, mainly Russian, but there are also significant Asian ethnic minorities, including Turkic and Mongolic peoples, as well as Indigenous groups.
Etymology: The name “Siberia” has uncertain origins. It may come from the Siberian Tatar word for ‘sleeping land,’ a Mongolic word meaning ‘dense forest,’ or possibly from the Sibe people or ancient tribal names. The name first appeared in Russian chronicles in the 15th century.