Countless herds of animals in
superb condition are everywhere seen roaming over these magnificent
flowering Steppes, over which the Muscovite Eagle proudly floats.
Parts of the great railway, however, traverse regions other than
these. To make the reader understand the general characteristics
of Siberia and the importance of the railway in the light of these
characteristics, a few words must be said about the three great
zones which mainly make up the country. The first is the _tundra_,
the vast region which stretches through the northern sub-arctic
latitudes. This desolate belt is not less than 5,000 miles in extent.
In breadth it varies from 200 to 500 miles. In winter the _tundra_
is, of course, one vast frozen sheet. In the brief summer it is
swampy, steaming, and swarming with mosquitoes. Treeless and sterile,
the _tundra_ is the home of strange uncouth tribes, but it is a
valuable training ground for hardy hunters. To the minds of most
people the _tundra_ is Siberia. This mischievous fallacy is difficult
to dispel.
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