Russia has a mostly continental climate because of its enormous size and remoteness from the Oceans. Most of the Russian territory is more than 400 kilometers (250 miles) from the ocean, and the center is 3,840 kilometers (2,386 mi) from the sea. Besides, Russia’s mountain chains, predominantly to the south and the east, prevent moderating temperatures from the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The European part of Russia and northern Siberia lack such topographic defend from cold arctic masses.