Siberia

Siberia is a giant region in the country of Russia. It stretches across most of northern Asia. Siberia is famous for being very cold and very big. It has forests, mountains, rivers, and frozen land. Not many people live there compared to its huge size.

Land and Weather

Siberia has some of the coldest weather on Earth. In winter, temperatures can drop below minus 50 degrees. The largest forest in the world, called the taiga, covers much of Siberia. Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake in the world. Reindeer, brown bears, and Siberian tigers live here.

People and Travel

People have lived in Siberia for thousands of years. Some groups still herd reindeer in the north. The Trans-Siberian Railway is a very long train line that crosses the whole region. It takes about a week to ride from one end to the other. Cities like Novosibirsk grew because of the railway.

Fun Facts

• Lake Baikal holds about 20 percent of the world's fresh water.
• The coldest town where people live year round is in Siberia.
• Woolly mammoth bones are often found frozen in Siberian ground.

Did You Know?

Siberia is so big that it could fit the entire country of the United States inside it with room to spare.