General Information

Ust-Ordynsky Buryatsky Autonomous Region is one of the regions of the Russian Federation. Situated in the south of East Siberia and in the southwest of the Irkutsk Oblast, it borders nine regions. The main public authorities are represented by the executive branch – the Administration of Ust-Ordynsky Buryat Autonomous Region and legislative branch – the Duma of Ust-Ordynsky Buryat Autonomous Region.

The area of the Ust-Ordynsky Buryatsky Autonomous Region is 22,400 sq. km. The population is about 144,000. About 56.5% of people living in the area are Russians, 36.3% are Buryats, 3.2% are Tatars, and 1.7% are Ukrainians. The administrative centre is Ust-Ordynsky.

Ust-Ordynsky is a small town. It gained the status of the town in 1941. The population of Ust-Ordynsky is about 13 thousand people. The town stands on the right bank of the Kuda River which is the tributary of the Angara River, on the Angara-Lena Route, 62 km from Irkutsk city.

Territory - 22,4 thousand sq. km
Population - 142,5thousand people
Distance from Moscow: 5111 km
City telephone code: +7 39541

Climate

The region occupies southern part of the Leno-Angarskoe Plateau which lies 1000 meters above sea level and is situated near Baikal Lake. The main river is Angara and the main landscape is the Irkutsk-Balaganskaya forest steppe. The sight is very picturesque: spacious meadows and pastures alternating coniferous woods.

The average temperature in January is minus 31,4 C. The average temperature in summer is 17,7 C above zero.

Economy

There are deposits of oil, gas, coal, refractory clay and salt in the region. Therefore the main industries include timber, wood working, paper and food industries, machine engineering, metal working and building materials production. However the economy is quite weak — the regional share in the industrial production of Russia is about 0% and the retail turnover accounts for only 0.02%.

Agriculture plays the leading role in the economy of the region. Wheat and potato cultivation are widely spread. Cattle are bred for dairy products, meat and wool.

The transport system of the district includes railway, motor road network and river transport.

Places To See

There is a regional museum in Ust-Ordynsky, which houses collections of local art and regional historical artifacts.

Sportsmen and tourists can try various mountain and river routes. Hunting and fishing are widespread thanks to diverse flora and fauna. Hang-gliders can try the small hills about 40 to 80 meters high.

National art of the region is very interesting, as the indigenous people manage to preserve their traditions and culture. Applied art, photography and jewelry are also developing. National festivals are a fascinating sight — they are worth seeing.

Hotels

The only hotel in Ust-Ordynsky is the Baikal Hotel. It is quite an old building. Local authorities are planning to make a business center with offices and restaurants in the hotel. Address of the hotel is Lenina str., 20, Ust-Ordynsky. Phone: +7 39541 21083.

There is also Ust-Ordynsky Tourist Center in the town located at Sovetskaya str., 7, Ust-Ordynsky. Phone: +7 39541 21999.

Evgeniya Stroganova