The total area of the system of mountain ranges is more than 1.5 million km².

The system is composed of a number of ranges aligned in an east–west direction stretching for almost 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi).

[2] Geologically the mountains of the system underwent a process of rejuvenation during the Alpine orogeny.

[3] Owing to the mountainous terrain, large swathes of the South Siberian system are uninhabited.

The main cities of the vast region are, from west to east: Krasnoyarsk, Angarsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude and Chita.