Etymology:
– Origin of the name is uncertain.
– Modern usage recorded in Russian after conquest of Siberian Khanate.
– Some sources suggest it comes from Siberian Tatar word for sleeping land.
– Polish historian proposed it derives from proto-Slavic word for north.
– Another account links it to ancient tribal ethnonym of Sirtyaru.
Geography:
– Siberia spans North Asia from Ural Mountains to Pacific Ocean.
– Covers over 13.1 million square kilometers.
– Vast and sparsely populated region.
– Includes cities like Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Omsk.
– Harsh winters with January average of -25°C (-13°F).
Administration:
– Russian government divides region into three federal districts.
– Central district is officially referred to as Siberian.
– Ural and Far Eastern federal districts are other two.
– Siberia culturally and ethnically European due to Russian influence.
– European descent population over 85%, with predominant Eastern Slavic cultural influences.
Ethnic Diversity:
– Majority are of European descent, mainly Russian.
– Sizable ethnic minorities of Asian lineage exist.
– Indigenous communities like Yakuts, Tuvans, Altai, and Buryats.
– Ethnic Koreans and smaller groups of Samoyedic and Tungusic peoples.
– Some classified as Indigenous small-numbered peoples by Russian government.
Climate:
– Known for long, harsh winters.
– January average temperature of -25°C (-13°F).
– Geographically in Asia, but culturally and ethnically European.
– Russian sovereignty and colonization since 16th century.
– European descent population over 85%.
