Siberian Forests

Forested ridges and river valleys cover this part of the southern Urals, between the Belaya basin and the higher mountains to the east. The Belaya's tributaries descend from the uplands toward the Kama and Volga. To the west, salt springs in the Tabyn country drew the attention of Russian settlers, and a fortified post was established there in the late sixteenth century. In 1752 a copper works was founded on Bashkir lands near the same district.