side as a dry and hot one. The country further south, accordingly, lies in the rain-shade 

 of the Sayansk mountains, and is therefore rather exsiccated. Over the Tannu-Ola, 

 this dried up land is in connection with and continues directly into the interminable 

 wastes and barren mountain tracts of Mongolia. 



Fig. 49. From the lower part of llie Sisti-kcni valley. The l)anUs 



grown with I'icca obovata. Planus Padiis, Sorbus Aucuparia, Ribcs 



nigrum. Ribcs piibesccns, Aliaijene sibirica, and Salix. 



Fig. 50. From the Sistikem valley near Ust Sisti kern, about SOOm. 



above sealevel. The banks chiefly grown with larch; in the 



background dry declivities, with the first ofT-shoots of a xerophi- 



lous steppe yegetation. 



