Buryatia
The Buryat Republic or Buryatia (Russian: Респу́блика Буря́тия; Buryat: Буряад Республика) is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic). The direct transliteration of the republic's name is Respublika Buryatiya.
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| Capital | Ulan-Ude | ||||
| Area - total |
Ranked 17th - 351,300 km² | ||||
| Population - Total |
Ranked 56th - est. 981,238 (2002) | ||||
| Political status | Republic | ||||
| Federal district | Siberian | ||||
| Economic Region | East Siberia | ||||
| Cadaster # | 03 | ||||
| Official languages | Russian, Buryat | ||||
| President | Leonid Vasilyevich Potapov | ||||
| Prime Minister | - | ||||
| National anthem | - | ||||
| Time zone | UTC +0900 | ||||
Geography
Buryatia is located in the South-Central region of Siberia along the eastern shore of Lake Baikal.
- Area: 351,300 km².
- Borders:
- internal: Irkutsk Oblast (W/NW/N), Chita Oblast (NE/E/SE/S), Tuva (E).
- international: Mongolia (S).
- water: Lake Baikal (E/SE).
- Highest point: Mount Munku-Sardyk (3,491 m).
Rivers
Major rivers include:
Lakes
Buryatia is located on the shores of the Lake Baikal (60% of the shore line).
Mountains
Over 80% of republic's territory is located in the mountainous region.
Natural Resources
Buryatia's natural resources include gold, tungsten, zinc, uranium and more.
Climate
- Average annual temperature: -1.6°C
- Average January temperature: -22°C
- Average July temperature: +18°C
- Average annual precipitation: 244 mm
Administrative division
- Main article: Administrative division of Buryatia
Demographics
Over 100 nationalities and ethnic groups inhabit Buryatia, including Russians (70%), Buryats (24%), and Ukrainians (2.2%).
- Population: 981,238 (2002)
- Urban: 584,970 (59.6%)
- Rural: 396,268 (40.4%)
- Male: 467,984 (47.7%)
- Female: 513,254 (52.3%)
- Females per 1000 males: 1,097
- Average age: 31.6 years
- Urban: 31.2 years
- Rural: 32.2 years
- Male: 29.4 years
- Female: 33.9 years
- Number of households: 322,289 (with 958,402 people)
- Urban: 197,651 (with 566,755 people)
- Rural: 124,638 (with 391,647 people)
History
The area of the modern day Buryatia was first colonized in the 1600s by Russians in search of wealth, furs and gold. In 1923, the republic was created through the union of the Buryat-Mongol and Mongol-Buryat Oblasts.
Politics
The head of government in Bashkortostan is the President. As of 2004, the president is Leonid Vasilyevich Potapov, who was elected in 1998 (with 63.25% of votes), and then re-elected on June 23, 2002 (with over 67% of votes).
Economy
The republic's economy is composed of important agricultural and commercial products including wheat, vegetables, potatoes, timber, leather and textiles. Fishing, hunting, fur farming, mining, stock raising and food processing are also important economic generators.
Education
The higher education institutions of the republic include Buryatia State University, Buryat State Academy of Agriculture, East Siberian State Academy of Arts and Culture, and East Siberian State Technological Institute.
Religion
Buddhism, Shamanism, and Orthodox Christianity are the most popular religions in Buryatia.
Tourism
Lake Baikal is a popular tourist destination.
External links
- Official website of the Buryat Republic (in Russian)
- Official website of the Buryat Republic (in Buryat)
- Official website of Buryat State Academy of Agriculture (in English)
- Official website of Buryat State Academy of Agriculture (in Russian)
- Official website of East Siberian State Academy of Arts and Culture (in Russian)