Geography
Location
The city stands on the banks of the Ob River in the West Siberian Plain. To the south of the city lies the Ukok Plateau, which forms part of the Golden Mountains of Altai UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Climate conditions
The climate is sharply continental, with severely cold winters. Snow is frequent, falling on almost half of winter days, but individual snowfalls are usually light. Temperatures in summer range from 20 °C to 25 °C (75 °F); in winter -18 °C to -20 °C (0 °F), but can reach from -40 °C to -50 °C (-40 °F) in winter and 35-40 °C (100 °F) in summer. The difference between the highest and the lowest temperature is 88 °C (158 °F). Most of the time the weather is sunny, with an average of 2880 hours of sunshine per year, but heavy rain is possible in summer.
Travelers coming from countries with mild climates may find Novosibirsk’s winter tough, but it will not be extraordinary for those from northern countries. At times, bitter cold may hold for some days, but temperatures of -40 °C and lower do not occur every year. In contrast, springtime is not the best season for visiting Novosibirsk, as streets and roads become dirty due to mud and melting snow, while the weather is still cold.
Flora
Lenin streetThe most prominent tree genera native to Novosibirsk are birch, pine, and aspen. Some mountain ash, hawthorn, spruce, and fir are also present. European species of apple, ash, elm, linden, and oak have been successfully introduced.
Fauna
Large mammals native to the Novosibirsk area include the brown bear, reindeer, moose (locally called elk), wolf, and fox. Also present are wolverine, ermine, marten, weasel, and polecat. The predators among them are supported by populations of beaver, hare, mouse, hamster, vole, shrew, squirrel, and chipmunk. More than 350 species of birds have been recorded. On the other hand, only a few cold-blooded vertebrate species occur on land, but they include the venomous adder and the swift grass snake. Perch and carp are prominent among the fish, of which there are more than thirty species. The carp often host a dangerous parasite, the liver fluke. Ticks in the area are frequent carriers of viral encephalitis.