Altai Republic

The Altai Republic, also known as the Gorno-Altai Republic, is a small republic in Russia located in southern Siberia. It is surrounded by many different areas, including Kemerovo Oblast to the north, Khakassia to the northeast, and Tuva to the east. To the west, it borders Altai Krai, and it also shares edges with three countries: Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan. This makes the Altai Republic a special place where many cultures and lands come together.

With an area of 92,903 square kilometers, the Altai Republic is the least crowded republic in all of Russia. Its capital city, Gorno-Altaysk, is the largest town, home to about 65,342 people. Even though it is part of a huge country, the Altai Republic stays quiet and peaceful, with fewer people living there than in many other places.

The Altai Republic is special because it is home to the indigenous Altai people, a group with roots in the Turkic traditions. They make up about 37% of the people living there, while most others are ethnic Russians at around 54%. You can also find smaller groups of people from Kazakhstan, other parts of Central Asia, and Germans. Russian is the main language spoken, but the Altai language is also official, and Kazakh is used in some places where many people speak it. This mix of cultures and languages makes the Altai Republic a unique and interesting place to learn about.

History

The land now called the Altai Republic has been ruled by many groups for thousands of years. Ancient empires like the Xiongnu and the First Turkic Khaganate controlled the area. Later, the Uyghur Empire and the Mongol Empire also ruled there.

More recently, the area became part of the Russian Empire in the 1860s. After World War I, a short-lived Altai Republic was created but was later taken over by Russia. In 1922, the region became an autonomous area within Russia, and in 1992 it was officially named the Altai Republic.

Geography

See also: Geography of South-Central Siberia

The Altai Republic is in the Altai Mountains in Asia. It is where the Siberian taiga, the steppes of Kazakhstan, and the semi-deserts of Mongolia meet. About a quarter of the land is forests.

• Area: 92,600 km² (35,800 sq mi)
• Borders:
  • internal: Kemerovo Oblast (N), Republic of Khakassia (NE), Tuva Republic (E), and Altai Krai (W/NW).
  • international: Mongolia (Bayan-Ölgii Province) (SE), China (Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang) (S), and Kazakhstan (East Kazakhstan Province) (S/SW)
• Highest point: Mount Belukha (4,506 m)
• Maximum N–S distance: 360 km
• Maximum E–W distance: 380 km

Rivers and lakes

The Altai Republic has many rivers and streams. The biggest rivers are the Katun and the Biya. They start in the mountains and flow north to join the Ob River, which goes to the Arctic Ocean.

The largest lake is Lake Teletskoye, known for its clear water. The Katun River starts at a glacier on Mount Belukha. There are about 7,000 lakes in the republic, with Lake Teletskoye being the largest.

Mountains

The Altai Republic is very mountainous, part of the Altai Mountains that stretch into Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan. The land has tall peaks and deep valleys. Mount Belukha is the highest point in Siberia.

Natural resources

The Altai Republic has many natural resources, especially water. Mineral springs and hot springs are popular for their health benefits. The mountains also have glaciers storing fresh water. Other resources include gold, silver, iron, and lithium.

Climate

The Altai Republic has a temperate continental climate. Summers are short and mild, while winters are long and cold. The southeastern parts, like the Ulagansky and Kosh-Agachsky Districts, have harsher weather than the north.

• Average annual temperature: +1 °C to −6.7 °C.
• January temperature range: −9.2 °C to −31 °C.
• July temperature range: +11 °C to +19 °C.
• Average annual precipitation: 100–1000 mm.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of the Altai Republic

The Altai Republic has ten districts and one city named Gorno-Altaysk. These districts are divided into smaller groups called selsovets.

Demographics

The Altai Republic is home to about 210,924 people, based on the latest count from 2021.

Most people there are ethnic Russians, who make up around 54% of the population. The indigenous Altai people are the next largest group, making up about 37%. There are also people of Kazakh origin, who account for about 6%, and a few smaller groups.

Vital statistics

Source: Russian Federal State Statistics Service Archived

Ethnic groups

According to the 2021 Census, ethnic Russians make up about 54% of the republic's population. The indigenous Altai people make up around 37%. Other groups include people of Kazakh origin, who account for about 6%, along with several smaller groups.

Politics

The Altai Republic has a leader called the Head of the Republic. The people choose this leader to serve for four years. As of 2024, the current Head of the Republic is Andrey Turchak.

The main group that makes laws is called the State Assembly—El Kurultai. It has 41 members, and the people choose them every four years.

The Altai Republic’s Constitution, which is like its rulebook, was accepted on June 7, 1997.

Economy

The Altai Republic is mostly known for farming. It also has some industries. These include making food, working with metals that aren’t iron, producing chemicals, mining gold, creating shoes, caring for dairy cows, and cutting down trees for wood. Tourism is growing, with new hotels and places to stay opening up.

The Altai Republic is one of the few parts of Russia without train services. The main road, called the Chuysky Tract, runs from the capital city, Gorno-Altaisk, to the border with Mongolia. This road goes through the tall Altai Mountains. People travel between towns using taxis and buses. Within towns, many people walk or ride horses.

Helicopters are used for emergencies, to bring supplies to faraway government places, and by some tourists. In 2012, the airport near the capital got bigger, and an airline started flying directly from Moscow. Before that, people had to fly through Barnaul or Novosibirsk to get there.

Since the Soviet Union ended, more people have visited the Altai Republic as tourists. Rich people from nearby parts of Russia visit the most, but people from other countries are also coming. Most tourists visit places in the north, where the roads are easier to travel. These spots are usually along the main road that leads into the mountains. The north is warmer than the south, which can stay cool even in summer.

Some famous places to visit include Lake Aiya, where people like to swim, and the beautiful Chemal area. Some adventurers travel to faraway Lake Teletskoye or Mount Belukha in the south.

Education

The Altai Republic has one university named Gorno-Altaysk State University. There are also 12 colleges and 205 secondary schools.

Religion

See also: Religion in Russia

Altai is home to many different religions. Many people follow the Russian Orthodox Church. Others practice ethnic and nature religions, like Rodnovery, Tengrism, and Burkhanism. Some people practice Islam or Hinduism. Many feel spiritual but do not follow a specific religion, and some are atheist.

The native Altaians have traditionally practiced a form of Tengrist shamanism, and this is growing again now. Many ethnic Russians in Altai practice Russian Orthodox Christianity or Rodnovery. The area also feels some influence from Tibetan Buddhism because of its neighbors Mongolia and Tuva.

In the early 1900s, a movement called Burkhanism began among the Altaians. This belief focuses on a "white" form of shamanistic practice and is still important to Altai's culture. Many people still respect shamanic traditions, like tying white ribbons to trees or leaving offerings by the Katun River. Interest in these traditions is growing again after greater religious freedom returned after the Soviet Union.

Culture

The Altai people believe their lands are sacred and care for them. They share stories through a special throat-singing. Their culture grew quiet during Soviet times but is coming back now. People from all parts of the region meet every two years in the village of Yelo for a big celebration.

Some people in Altai are called "Old Believers." They left the Russian Orthodox Church over 300 years ago and found a safe place in Altai.

There is a special place called the "Golden Mountains" that is very important and protected by UNESCO. It has tall stones and old burial mounds called kurgans.

The Altai Republic celebrates holidays like Maslenitsa and Nowruz.

Main article: Old Believers

Main articles: Ukok Plateau, kurgans, Siberian Ice Maiden

Further information: Turkvision Song Contest

Sport

Bandy is a sport that people play in the Altai Republic.

Notable people

Main category: People from the Altai Republic

The Altai Republic has had many important people. Alexander Berdnikov has been a leader of the republic since 2006. Grigory Gurkin was a well-known landscape painter. Mikhail Lapshin served as President of the Altai Republic from 2002 to 2006. Sergey Ochurdyapov works to protect cultural heritage sites. Aruna Arna led protests in the region. Sergey Mikayelyan is a talented cross-country skier. Viktor Shvaiko is another respected painter. Semyon Zubakin was a head of the Altai Republic from 1998 to 2002.