What physical feature divides Europe and Asia?

The Urals, or Ural Mountains, are the physical feature conventionally used to divide Europe and Asia.

This north–south mountain range runs mainly through western Russia, extending from near the Arctic coast toward Kazakhstan. In the common geographic convention, it marks the boundary between European Russia to the west and Siberia, generally treated as part of Asia, to the east.

The Urals are an ancient mountain system rather than an especially high one. Their highest summit is Mount Narodnaya, which rises to about 1,895 metres. The range stretches for roughly 2,500 kilometres and contains major mineral resources, including iron ore, coal, and precious metals.

The Europe–Asia boundary is conventional rather than an obvious geological division. Different authorities have proposed slightly different routes involving the Ural River, the Caucasus, or the Kuma–Manych Depression. Even so, “the Urals” is the standard short answer expected in general geography quizzes.

The range also gives its name to the Ural River, which is often included as part of the broader boundary farther south.