The Urals are “Old Fold Mountains” formed during the Carboniferous period. Geographically, they are not particularly high due to extensive erosion, but their north-south orientation makes them a perfect continental divider. Along with the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea, the Urals define the limits of the European continent. They are also an economic powerhouse for Russia, containing vast deposits of minerals like iron, copper and precious stones. In geography exams, the Urals are frequently cited as the primary example of a range that defines continental borders based on historical and physical conventions.