The book is a popular scientific essay about the mountainous country of the Eastern Sayans - one of the most beautiful areas of southern Siberia. The territory of Sayan covers an area of about 250 thousand. q. km and is considered one of the most difficult and sparsely populated in Siberia. Population density here is less than 1 person per 1 sq . km. Central plateau of Eastern Sayan outstanding researcher of Eastern Siberia . In. Betrothed figuratively called "Tibet in miniature". From all sides - from the north, east, west and south - mountain ranges rise 1000 m, making it difficult to penetrate the valley and contact the Okinawans with the outside world. Due to the isolation of this area, species of animals have been preserved here, which almost disappeared in the Lake Baikal area: red wolf and snow leopard, arhar, Tuvan beaver and reindeer. Other books on the geography of Southern Siberia: G. G. Martinson . In search of the ancestors of the fauna of BaikalO. K. Gusev . From Barguzinsky Reserve to Ushkanye Islands. P. Good . The Caves of Baikal