The pre-revolutionary heritage

Siberian society and economy under NEP were unique by Soviet standards as they were distinguished from other areas of the country in several significant respects, some of which were a legacy of the pre-revolutionary settlement of the region. The development of Siberia followed the common pattern of colonisation of new territories in the latter part of the nineteenth century and was largely determined by its rich economic potential, climate, means of communication with other developed areas and the character of its settlers. The ‘endless steppes’ of Russia are a mere prelude to the unchecked expanses lying east of the Urals, for the west Siberian lowland steppe encompasses one of the most vast plains of arable and pasture land on earth. From the Ishim river over 1,000 kilometres east and south-eastward to the Altai mountains stretches an unbroken tract of practically level steppe 300–500 kilometres wide intersected by two great rivers, the Irtysh and the Ob, and their tributaries. The soils of much of this area are of the highly fertile black-earth and chestnut-brown kind but unstable continental climatic conditions create difficulties in agricultural production and the wide divergences in winter and summer temperatures make the area highly susceptible to droughts and winter killing of crops and animals. The most suitable area for agricultural production in the region is the Altai steppe in south-west Siberia where the climate is milder and the chestnut-brown soils receive adequate rainfall.