The ecoregion is in the Palearctic realm and the deserts and xeric shrublands biome.

This climate is characterized by high variation in temperature, both daily and seasonally; with low precipitation and cool winters.

Average temperature in January is −26.6 °C (−15.9 °F), and in July is 18.8 °C (65.8 °F)[5] The basin is an area of great diversity, because it incorporates many transition zones, such as steppe to desert, fresh-water to salt-water, and low-altitude to high-altitude.

Species diversity is also high because the area is relatively untouched by human development.

It is an isolated area, with no history of extensive resource exploitation or intensive farming.