OBSHCHIY SYRT

OBSHCHIY SYRT, upland in the SE of the East European Plain. It extends in the territory of Saratov, Samara and Orenburg oblasts; within the territory of the RB, to the south from the Belebey Upland, there are extreme northern spurs of O.S. Length — approx. 500 km, abs. alt. — 405 m (Medvezhy Lob). The relief is of denudation- erosion type, syrt steep slopes are characteristic, karst is developed. There are deposits of hydrocarbons, gypsum, clays, cupriferous sandstones, etc. The southern border of the forest steppe runs along the O.S. Forests are combined with thickets of steppe shrubs, consisting of pea shrub, spiraea, wild almonds and steppe cherry. Dark‑gray forest soils and leached black soils are common, sodic soils are in evidence.