The Siberian Steppe is a vast expanse of grassland that forms a major part of the wider Eurasian Steppe. This immense region of unforested plains stretches across southern Siberia, representing a transition zone between the dense taiga forests to the north and the Altai Mountains to the south. A steppe is a dry, cold grassland biome, and the Siberian portion is defined by its lack of trees and its sheer scale.
Geographical and Climatic Features
The landscape of the Siberian Steppe consists of vast, mostly flat to gently rolling plains in the low-lying areas of south-central Siberia. Some sections, like the Minusinsk Hollow, form along river basins. The region’s geography lacks significant mountain barriers to the north, leaving it exposed to Arctic air masses, which is a primary driver of its extreme continental climate.
The climate features cold, long winters and short, often hot, summers. Mean January temperatures can fall to around -20°C (-4°F), while summer temperatures can be mild. Due to its interior continental location far from the moderating influence of oceans, there is very little humidity. Precipitation is low, averaging between 200 and 400 millimeters per year, which supports grasses but is insufficient for extensive forests.
Unique Flora and Fauna
The plants of the Siberian Steppe are well-adapted to its dry and windy conditions. The flora is dominated by various species of grasses, such as feather grass (Stipa) and bushgrass (Calamagrostis epigejos), alongside hardy herbs and low shrubs like wormwood and thyme. In the forest-steppe zones that transition to the taiga, sparse groves of birch, aspen, and willow can be found near rivers or in wetter areas.
The animal life is adapted to thrive on the open plains. Grazing mammals include the saiga antelope and roe deer, while smaller burrowing animals like rodents are also common. Predators include the corsac fox and wolves, and the region is home to numerous birds of prey, such as the saker falcon, and ground-nesting birds like the yellow-breasted bunting.
A History of Nomadic Peoples
The grasslands of the Siberian Steppe historically gave rise to pastoral nomadism, where groups migrated with herds of livestock in a lifestyle suited to the open terrain. Among the most well-known of these peoples were the Scythians, who dominated the steppe from roughly the 9th to the 2nd century BCE. Their culture was linked to the horse, which provided transportation, sustenance, and a military advantage.
The Scythians interred their dead in large burial mounds known as kurgans, which are scattered across the steppe in the tens of thousands. Often clustered in cemeteries, these kurgans contained the deceased and a wealth of grave goods, including weapons, everyday items, and sacrificed horses, reflecting a belief in an afterlife. The size of the mound often correlated with the status of the individual buried within.
The Mammoth Steppe and Rewilding Efforts
During the Pleistocene epoch, the last Ice Age, this region was part of a more productive ecosystem known as the Mammoth Steppe. This ancient biome stretched from Spain to Canada and supported a high density of large animals, including woolly mammoths, woolly rhinos, bison, and horses. The ecosystem disappeared around 10,000 years ago when a reduction in large herbivores allowed mosses and shrubs to replace the grasses.
An ecological experiment known as Pleistocene Park is attempting to resurrect this ancient grassland in northeastern Siberia. The project restores the grazing ecosystem by reintroducing large herbivores like bison, musk ox, Yakutian horses, and camels into a large, enclosed area. The goal is to show these animals can transform the landscape back into grassland, which has climate benefits. By trampling snow, the animals help the ground freeze deeper, protecting carbon-rich permafrost from thawing and releasing greenhouse gases.