The Ural Mountains are crossed by the historic Trans-Siberian Railway along its route through Russia.
The Urals run approximately north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Kara Sea toward the northern edge of Kazakhstan. Geographers commonly regard them, together with the Ural River and the Caucasus region, as part of the traditional boundary between Europe and Asia. The railway passes through or near several Ural cities, including Yekaterinburg, a major industrial and transport centre.
The range is geologically ancient, formed during the Uralian orogeny roughly 250–300 million years ago. Its highest summit is Mount Narodnaya, which reaches 1,895 metres. The Urals are especially important for mineral resources, including iron ore, copper, gold, and precious stones. They are lower and older than the Himalayas, so their rounded, forested landscapes differ markedly from the sharp, snow-covered peaks associated with younger mountain belts.