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Buryatia

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Buryatia, officially the Republic of Buryatia, is a republic within the Russian Federation. It is located in the Russian Far East.

Buryatia02
Buryatia02

The republic sits in the south-central region of Siberia. It occupies a vital position along the eastern shore of Lake Baikal.

Baikalskoe - panoramio
Baikalskoe - panoramio

This lake is the deepest in the world. Buryatia contains 60% of the lake's total shoreline. The region is bordered by several distinct areas. To the north lies Irkutsk Oblast and Lake Baikal. Zabaykalsky Krai borders the east and southeast. Tuva is located to the west. To the south, Buryatia shares an international border with Mongolia.

The physical landscape of Buryatia is defined by its rugged terrain. Over 80% of the republic's territory consists of mountainous regions.

Southernburyatia
Southernburyatia

Several mountain ranges define the geography. The Baikal Mountains sit along the northern shores of Lake Baikal. The Ulan-Burgas mountains are located east of the lake. In the south, near the Mongolian border, lie the Selenga Highlands. Water is also a major feature of the land. Many large rivers flow through the republic. These include the Barguzin, Kitoy, Oka, Selenga, Uda, Vitim, and the Upper Angara rivers.

View of the valley of the Uda near the village of Khorinsk
View of the valley of the Uda near the village of Khorinsk

The climate varies significantly across these different zones. The capital city, Ulan-Ude, has a humid steppe climate. In contrast, the northern regions experience a humid continental climate.

Buryatia is home to the indigenous Buryat people. Their history in the Lake Baikal area dates back to at least the fifth century.

Buryat home2
Buryat home2

Over many centuries, various empires governed this territory. These included the Xiongnu Empire and the Mongolian Xianbei state. Other groups like the Rouran Khaganate and the Tang dynasty also held influence. The Mongol Empire and the Northern Yuan also ruled the region. These historical shifts helped shape the distinct identities of the Buryat people. Some Buryats lived on the western shore of Lake Baikal. This area had better land for agriculture. Other Buryats lived in the east. These groups practiced nomadism and lived in moveable felt yurts.

The relationship between Buryatia and the Russian Empire changed the region's development. In 1625, Cossacks began moving into western Buryat lands. The Russian Empire implemented a tribute system called yasak. This system required a yearly supply of furs from local tribes. The Buryats resisted this system for many years. By the 1680s, the last eastern lands were forced into the yasak system. In 1666, the fort of Udinskoye was founded. This settlement later became Verkhneudinsk. In 1934, it was renamed Ulan-Ude, which is now the capital.

Центр Улан-Удэ
Центр Улан-Удэ

From 1727, the area served as a border crossing for the Kyakhta trade between Russia and the Qing Empire. This trade connected Russia with China.

Buddhism is a major cultural and religious force in the republic. Empress Elizabeth recognized Buddhism as an official religion of the Russian Empire in 1741. The first Pandito Khambo Lama was elected in 1764. This role represents the spiritual leader of Buryat Buddhists. Damba Dorzha Zaiaev was the first person to serve in this position. Even during the Soviet era, Buddhism remained present. In 1945, the Ivolginsky Datsan opened. It served as the only Buddhist spiritual centre in the USSR.

Буддийский храм в Гэгэтуе
Буддийский храм в Гэгэтуе

Today, the region still features notable religious sites. For example, the Dzharun-Hashor is the largest stupa in the area.

Dzharun-Hashor
Dzharun-Hashor

Industrial development significantly altered the population and economy of Buryatia. The republic possesses valuable natural resources. These include gold, tungsten, zinc, and uranium.

Blue diopsidite skarn Buryatia Republic, Transbaikalia, eastern Siberia
Blue diopsidite skarn Buryatia Republic, Transbaikalia, eastern Siberia

In the 1970s, the Soviet government started two major projects. They built the Gusinoozerskii power station south of Ulan-Ude. They also constructed the Baikal–Amur Mainline railway in the north. These projects required many workers from other parts of the country. This led to rapid urban growth. Before World War II, less than 10% of Buryats lived in cities. By the fall of the Soviet Union, almost half of the population lived in urban areas. By 1989, one-third of the Buryat population lived in Ulan-Ude.

Today, Buryatia functions as an autonomous republic within Russia. The government is led by a Head, who is elected by the people for a four-year term.

Dmitry Medvedev in Buryatia August 2009-2
Dmitry Medvedev in Buryatia August 2009-2

The legislative body is known as the People's Khural. It consists of 66 deputies elected every five years. The republic's current population was 978,588 according to the 2021 Census. While the republic has its own legislature and president, its autonomy was changed by Russian laws in 2004. This law changed how regional leaders are selected. Despite these changes, Buryatia remains a distinct and important part of the Russian Far East.

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🖼️ Images & Media (13)
Буряад Уласай түрын дуулал.ogg
File:Большая Байкальская тропа.jpg
Большая Байкальская тропа.jpg
File:View_of_the_valley_of_the_Uda_near_the_village_of_Khorinsk.jpg
View_of_the_valley_of_the_Uda_near_the_vil...
File:Southernburyatia.jpg
Southernburyatia.jpg
File:Blue diopsidite skarn Buryatia Republic, Transbaikalia, eastern Siberia.jpg
Blue diopsidite skarn Buryatia Republic,...
File:Buryat home2.jpg
Buryat home2.jpg
File:Buryatia02.png
Buryatia02.png
File:Dzharun-Hashor.jpg
Dzharun-Hashor.jpg
File:Буддийский храм в Гэгэтуе.jpg
Буддийский храм в Гэгэтуе.jpg
File:Центр Улан-Удэ.JPG
Центр Улан-Удэ.JPG
File:Baikalskoe - panoramio.jpg
Baikalskoe - panoramio.jpg
File:Республика Бурятия, Баргузинский залив.jpg
Республика Бурятия, Баргузинский залив.jpg

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