From the first references to the South Ural and Caspian steppes by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus (V century BC) to geographical descriptions of the Orenburg Territory by scientists of the early XX century. - this is the history of research of the huge steppe region presented in the essays of the book. The reader learns about the life and expeditions of P.I. Rychkov, P.S. Pallas, E.A. Eversmann, S.S. Neustruev and others. Their routes passed through the territory of the current Orenburg, Chelyabinsk regions, Bashkortostan, as well as in Western Kazakhstan.