The Central Siberian Plateau is a massive, mineral-rich expanse covering one-third of Siberia.

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning 600,000 square miles, this vast upland region sits between the Yenisey and Lena rivers. It is a rugged landscape of plateaus and ridges, defined by a harsh continental climate and dense conifer forests. Beneath its surface lies a treasure trove of coal, gold, diamonds, and natural gas.

The Central Siberian Plateau is a sprawling upland area located in north-central Russia, encompassing parts of the Krasnoyarsk kray, Sakha, and Irkutsk oblast. Geographically, it is defined by its position between the Yenisey River to the west and the Lena River to the east. This region is not a uniform plain; rather, it is a complex system of alternating wide plateaus and sharply jagged ridges that collectively account for one-third of Siberia’s total landmass.

The plateau's environment is dominated by the taiga, a circumpolar biome of needle-leaved evergreen trees. This northern forest, often called the boreal forest, is adapted to long, severely cold winters and short, cool-to-warm growing seasons. Larch is particularly abundant across the territory, which also features a mosaic of closed-canopy forests, lichen woodlands, and forest-tundra near the northern tree line. These ecosystems are shaped by the degree of warmth during the growing season and the extreme minimum winter temperatures.

Geologically, the plateau is known for the Siberian Traps, a feature that contributes to its immense mineral wealth. The region contains significant deposits of coal, iron ore, gold, platinum, diamonds, and natural gas. While the plateau is vast, its physical characteristics are varied, with subranges like the Putorana Plateau reaching elevations such as Mount Kamen, which stands at 1,678 meters. This combination of extreme climate, rugged topography, and resource density makes it a unique and vital component of the Russian landscape.

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