Ural Mountains
the longest chain of mountains running N. and S. in the Old World, extending for 1,970 miles from the deep basin of the Caspian and Aral seas in lat. 45° 50′ N. to the coast of the Arctic Ocean, and across the Kara Strait into Novaia Zemlia, terminating at lat. 76½° N. They divide themselves into three sections: (1) The Northern Urals, from the Arctic Ocean to the source of the Petchora, consisting of wild and rocky mountains, mostly without vegetation, rising at the highest point, Telpös-is, to 5,435 feet.
Though only 50 miles in breadth, several parallel chains are formed separated by long valleys crossed transversely by depressions which form easy passes for the transport of the produce of Siberia to Archangel. (2) The Middle Urals, extending S. to the source of the Ufa, a broad table-land rather than a mountain chain, of moderate height, sloping gradually W. and E. The highest points are Nurtchum (5,315 feet), Kirtim (4,265 feet), and Kumba (3,330 feet). The road from Perm to Jekaterinburg is the principal pass. The mineral wealth of the Middle Urals is great and consists of gold, silver, copper, platinum, iron, and coal. This district yields one-third of the whole iron produce of Russia. (3) The Southern Urals extending S. in three divisions, the extreme W. of which stretches along the right bank of the Ural river. Its highest points are Iremel (5,230 feet), Taganai (3,440 feet), and Vurma (3,448 feet).