What Counts as North Asia, and Why It's Worth Knowing
North Asia usually means Siberia and the Russian Far East, often grouped with Mongolia for travel: a region of enormous distances, remote wilderness and a blend of indigenous, Russian and Mongolian cultures.
Short answer
Geographers use 'North Asia' mainly for Siberia and the Russian Far East — the Asian part of Russia — while travellers often include Mongolia. The region is defined by distance, extreme continental climate, vast taiga and steppe, and cultures shaped by indigenous peoples, Russian settlement and Mongolian nomadic traditions.
Key points
- Asian Russia covers roughly three-quarters of Russia's territory.
- Mongolia is usually grouped with the region for travel.
- Distances and seasons dominate planning.
- Check current government travel advice for Russia before planning.
"North Asia" is one of the least-used regional labels, but it describes something real: the immense northern band of the continent, from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific.
Defining the region
| Area | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Western and Eastern Siberia | From the Urals to Lake Baikal; taiga, rivers, cities such as Novosibirsk and Irkutsk |
| Russian Far East | From Baikal to the Pacific: Yakutia, Kamchatka, Primorye |
| Mongolia (often included) | Steppe, mountains and the Gobi desert |
Defined by distance
The Trans-Siberian railway from Moscow to Vladivostok covers about 9,300 km and crosses seven time zones. Distances between towns can be hundreds of kilometres of forest or steppe. Planning revolves around transport and time.
Wilderness that remains remote
Taiga forests, tundra, volcanoes in Kamchatka, and Lake Baikal — the world's deepest and oldest freshwater lake — make up some of the least-populated landscapes on earth.
A blend of cultures
Indigenous peoples such as the Buryats, Sakha and Evenks; centuries of Russian settlement; Mongolian nomadic traditions and Tibetan Buddhism — the region's cultures reflect all of these.
Before planning
The bottom line
North Asia is a region of extremes — distance, climate, emptiness — and of resilient, distinctive cultures. Start with Mongolia's steppe and Gobi or read about Lake Baikal through the seasons.
Questions readers ask
Is Mongolia part of North Asia or East Asia?
Definitions vary. The UN groups Mongolia with East Asia, while many travellers consider it alongside Siberia because of geography, climate and transport links.
Which indigenous peoples live in Siberia?
Many, including the Buryats around Lake Baikal, the Sakha (Yakuts), Evenks, Nenets, Tuvans and Chukchi, among others.
