rill' c'liinaU' is \fiy iliy and hoi down here, and in lliis respect there is a j^ri'al 

 differeiu'e l)i't\veeii liiis aiiil Soyole Steppe and the more I'levaled and iunnid mountain 

 valleys ill the nortli-eastern portions of the land, l-'iom the steppes lure on the Ulu- 

 kcm may freiinently in snmnier i)e ohserved iieavy tliiinder-storms and toncnts of rain 



Fig. 65. Scenery I'lom tlie steppes atjoiit the Ulu kem. Tlie 



land is dry and desert-like, witti a nearly complete aljsence 



of vegetation. On the alluvial plain in the foreground are 



seen sonic yurts belonging to the natives. 



Fig. 66. Rock steppe, dry and naked, about the Uhi kcin. 



to the north, apparently following the mountains, without touching the inner dry basin. 

 The summers are very hot, with temperatures regularly rising to + 40° C. in the daj'- 

 time, while, in winter the temperature sinks to -h 30 or 35^ C, and, as a rare exception. 



95 



