The major settled areas were in the rain-fed regions of the east and southeast in the foothills of the mountains, and along the Syrdarya River; the former being settled by Slavs and other groups from within the Russian empire and the latter being geographically similar to Central Asia. In the South Kazakhstan oblast, there is a large Uzbek population. The northern regions are geographically similar to Siberia, with relatively good soils and a variable climate.