Ishim Steppe

Ishim Steppe Ishim Plain Ишимская равнина Есіл даласы
Plain
Map of the West Siberian Plain with the Ishim Steppe in the southern part
Coordinates: 56°N 70°E / 56°N 70°E / 56; 70
Location	Kazakhstan, Russia
Part of	West Siberian Plain
Area
• Total	200,000 km2 (77,000 sq mi)
Elevation	140 meters (460 ft) to 250 meters (820 ft)

Ishim Steppe (Russian: Ишимская равнина, Kazakh: Есіл даласы, Yesil dalasy) is a plain in the southern part of Western Siberia, between the Irtysh and Tobol rivers. Administratively it is part of Kurgan, Tyumen, and Omsk oblasts in Russia, and the North Kazakhstan Region in Kazakhstan.^[1]

Geography

The plain includes the

In the lowlands and valleys there are numerous fresh, bitter, and salt lakes, such as Siletiteniz, Kyzylkak, Medvezhye, Stanovoye, Teke, Ebeyty, Tavolzhan and Shaglyteniz, as well as the Krutinsky Lakes, including lakes Tenis-Saltaim, Sazykul and Ik. The smaller lakes and rivers dry up in the summer.^[3]

Climate

The amplitude of average monthly temperatures is between 37 °C (99 °F) and 38 °C (100 °F). Winters are cold and long, the average January temperature ranging between −18 °C (0 °F) and −20 °C (−4 °F), reaching −48 °C (−54 °F) to −52 °C (−62 °F) in periods of severe frosts. The summer season is warm, with the average temperature in July between 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) and 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) and maximums reaching 38 °C (100 °F) to 40 °C (104 °F).^[4]

Flora

The landscape of the plain is dominated by meadow steppes and birch forests (kolki). The soil consists in leached and normal chernozem and gray forest topsoils. In the south the plain is entirely under cultivation.^[3]

References