West Siberian Plain

A vast low-lying region of western Siberia between the Ural Mountains and the Yenisei River. Its rivers drain northward toward the Arctic Ocean.

Ob River: A major river of western Siberia that flows north into the Gulf of Ob. The Ob drains much of the plain and carries its waters toward the Arctic.
West Siberian taiga: The northern coniferous forest belt of western Siberia, dominated by spruce, fir, pine, and larch. Taiga covers large parts of the plain outside its wettest northern zones.
West Siberian oil basin: A major petroleum-producing basin beneath western Siberia, centered on the West Siberian Lowland. Its oil fields underlie a large part of the plain.
Peatland: A wetland where waterlogged conditions slow plant decay and allow peat to accumulate. The plain’s extensive peatlands store carbon and shape regional hydrology.
Irtysh River: A major tributary of the Ob River, flowing through China, Kazakhstan, and western Siberia. Its basin drains the plain’s southwestern reaches before joining the Ob.
West Siberian Lowland permafrost: Perennially frozen ground occurring across parts of the West Siberian Lowland, especially in its north. Permafrost restricts drainage and helps sustain wetlands in the northern plain.
West Siberian natural gas fields: Large natural gas deposits and production areas in the West Siberian Lowland. These fields made the plain a cornerstone of Russian gas production.
Methane emissions: The release of methane into the atmosphere from natural and human sources. Wetlands and thawing ground across the plain can release methane.
Yenisei River: A major Siberian river that flows north into the Kara Sea. The Yenisei marks the plain’s eastern boundary.
Vasyugan Swamp: A vast peatland in the southern part of the West Siberian Lowland. Its waterlogged terrain exemplifies the poor drainage of the plain.

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