Final answer:
Siberia is sparsely populated due to its extreme climate, difficult terrain for infrastructure development, and a rural-to-urban shift leading the population to move to cities. The unpredictable rainfall and short growing seasons limit agriculture, further influencing low population density.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several reasons why Siberia is not heavily populated. The region's extreme climate is characterized by cold, harsh winters due to air masses from the Arctic Ocean. This climate results in a short growing season which limits agricultural opportunities. Additionally, Siberia experiences unpredictable rainfall and unstable climate factors.
Furthermore, the geographical features of Siberia include vast undisturbed forests, raging rivers, and frozen tundra, creating difficult conditions for constructing infrastructure such as roads and railroads necessary for supporting large populations and industries. Combined with its remote location and less hospitable terrain when compared to places like the United States, which have flatter and more accessible prairies, Siberia's development challenges are significant.
Moreover, the rural-to-urban shift has seen many Siberians, especially the youth, moving to cities in search of work, abandoning the traditional ways of living. This pattern contributes to the decreasing population in rural Siberian areas.
While Siberia is rich with natural resources, the sheer size of Russia and the distance between these resources and the cities make the transportation and industrialization difficult and less attractive for an expanding population.