The book by M.I. Tsiporukha is dedicated to the development of Siberian and Far Eastern lands by Russian people, their gradual entry into the Russian state. In an accessible and fascinating form, the author talks about the ancient states on the territory of Siberia, the processes of ethnogenesis, and the archaeological discoveries of Russian scientists. The main attention is paid to the actions of Russian explorers and sailors, primarily in the last third of the 16th and the first half of the 17th centuries. however, travel and expeditions are considered up to the end of the 18th century. Present-day Siberia and the Far East occupy more than three-quarters of the territory of modern Russia. The endless expanses of Siberia conceal in their depths colossal reserves of oil, gas, coal, gold, diamonds, iron, non-ferrous and rare metals. Without Siberia, Russia would not have existed as a great power - this is the main idea of this study.