The modern Russian Federation is composed of seven federal districts, one of which is the Siberian Federal District. As with all districts, the Siberian Federal District is headed by a "plenipotentiary representative," which serves as the district's envoy to the federal government and the president. The plenipotentiary representative also serves as the person tasked to monitor and oversee federal laws and regulations. As of May 2011, Anatoli Kvashnin heads the Siberian Federal District.
The Siberian Federal District is a part of Siberia; the whole of Siberia includes other federal subjects under the Urals Federal District and the Far Eastern Federal District. All in all, Siberia comprises about 75 percent to 77 percent of the whole Russian Federation's land territory, about 5 million square miles. This vast land has several geographical conditions and features, including dense forests and mountainous regions, making Siberia one of the most diverse places on the planet.
Siberia constitutes about 9 percent of the planet's total land area and this area is divided into tundra, taiga and steppes. About 40 percent of Siberia is covered in coniferous forests (taiga), while the rest are treeless plains (tundra) and grasslands (steppes). It also has several mountain ranges, lakes and rivers. Lake Baikal, the deepest and oldest lake in the world, contains about 20 percent of all freshwater in the planet.
As of May 2011, 41 million people live in the Siberian region, which is 28 percent of Russia's population. Russians and Ukranians make up the vast majority of the inhabitants, but several indigenous groups make up about 5 percent of the population.
Russia's major natural reserves are in Siberia: 50 percent of its timber reserves, 85 percent of its prospected gas reserves, 75 percent of its coal reserves and 65 percent of its petroleum reserves. It is also a major source of precious metals and elements, such as molybdenum, copper, nickel, gold, silver, lead and platinum.
