Known to most as a realm of exile and labor camps, Siberia is also one of the world's wealthiest resource bases. This harsh, vast land constitutes nearly three-quarters of Russia's territory, yet after four centuries of Slavic migration and procreation it is home to a mere 32 million people. In this comprehensive book, Victor Mote illuminates the dichotomy between Siberia's rich treasure house of resources and its peripheral relationship to the rest of the world.