Southern Urals

the part of the Ural Mountains extending from the Ufa River near the city of Nizhnii Ufalei to the Ural River. The Southern Urals measure 550 km in length and rise to a maximum elevation of 1,640 m at Mount Iamantau. The highest and widest part is composed of quartzites, gneisses, and schists. Most of the slopes are covered by taiga forests, with some mixed forests. Broad-leaved forests also occur. The eastern slope and southern part have steppes, most of which are under cultivation.