In the month of June these islets lay at a level of from 1 to 1,5 m. above the surface of 

 the water, that is, on a level with the low steppe itself. To judge from all the drift 

 wood, however, washed upon the islets, they are completely or partially submerged in 

 spring when the river-water is at its highest. This circumstance may, moreover, account 

 for the nearly total absence of quadrupeds and reptiles, especially snakes, abounding on 

 the steppes, but never observed by us in these localities. Chiefly in the lower part of the 

 river some of the islets he at a considerably higher level, the whole steppe as well lying 

 somewhat higher, frequently from 3 to 6 m. above the surface of the river. The stream 

 constantly erodes this loose material on the sides, and the steppe, as well as frequently 

 also the islets, generally rises abruptly from the water. 



Fig. 2. From the lower course of the river Abakan. The river 

 erodes, so that the steppe falls abrupt towards the river. 



In the neighbourhood of the river the soil of the steppe chiefly consists 

 of brown clay, at a greater distance from the river of black earth, and here and there 

 of sand or very sandy earth. In many places the soil is saline, salt lakes and salt 

 marshes being widely distributed. In places where the solid rock lies bare, it turns out 

 to consist of red Devonian sandstone cliffs with scattered coal-fields. The steppe floor 

 proper lies at an altitude of from 250 to 300 m. above sea-level, which is markedly low, 

 making proper allowance for the fact that it is situated so far into the great continent. 



There is now, practically speaking, a complete absence of tree vegetation 

 in the traversed parts of the Abakan Steppe, save in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of the rivers. There was, however, evidence that the climate had once been 

 moister, and the steppe, at least partially, covered with woods, for tree-roots are to be 

 found in the ground in several places. Some lonely larches, straggling at long intervals, 

 frequently on the summits of the Devonian sandstone cliffs, are now the last remains of 

 the woods covering these tracts of land in former times. Now there is not even sufficient 



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