Buryatia

Buryatia
Name	Buryatia
Native name	Республика Бурятия
Settlement type	Republic
Coordinates	53, 48, N, 109...
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Russia
Established title	Established
Established date	30 May 1923
Seat type	Capital
Seat	Ulan-Ude
Leader title	Head
Leader name	Aleksey Tsydenov
Area total km2	351334
Population total	978,588
Population rank	56th
Blank name sec2	ISO 3166 code
Blank info sec2	RU-BU
Website	http://egov-buryatia.ru/

Buryatia, officially the Republic of Buryatia, is a federal subject of Russia located in Siberia. It is situated along the eastern shore of Lake Baikal, the world's deepest and oldest freshwater lake. The capital and largest city is Ulan-Ude, a major cultural and industrial center. The region is known for its unique blend of Buddhist and Shamanist traditions among the indigenous Buryats.

Geography

Buryatia is characterized by diverse landscapes, from the mountainous terrains of the East Sayan and Baikal Mountains to the vast steppes of the Selenga River basin. Its most significant natural feature is Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing roughly 20% of the world's unfrozen freshwater. Major rivers include the Selenga River, which flows into Lake Baikal, and the Vitim River, part of the Lena River basin. The republic shares a long southern border with Mongolia and is adjacent to the Zabaykalsky Krai, Irkutsk Oblast, and the Tuva Republic.

History

The territory has been inhabited for millennia by nomadic tribes, ancestors of the modern Buryats and Evenks. It was incorporated into the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Russian expansion eastward, led by Cossack explorers like Pyotr Beketov, reached the area in the mid-17th century, leading to the signing of the Treaty of Nerchinsk with Qing China. The region was formally annexed by the Russian Empire after the Treaty of Kyakhta in 1727. Following the Russian Revolution, the Buryat-Mongol Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed in 1923, later renamed and reorganized within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

Demographics

According to the 2021 census, the population is approximately 978,000. The titular ethnic group, the Buryats, constitute about 30% of the population, while ethnic Russians form the majority. Smaller indigenous groups include the Evenks and Soyots. The predominant religions are Tibetan Buddhism, practiced by many Buryats, and Russian Orthodoxy. Shamanism also retains a significant cultural role. The population is concentrated in the capital, Ulan-Ude, and along the main transportation corridors like the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Culture

Buryat culture is a distinctive synthesis of Mongolic traditions and Siberian influences. The republic is a center of Buddhism in Russia, home to the Ivolginsky Datsun, the seat of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia. Traditional arts include throat singing, epic tales like the Geser saga, and nomadic crafts. Major cultural institutions are based in Ulan-Ude, such as the Buryat State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Ethnographic Museum of the Peoples of Transbaikalia. The annual Sagaalgan (Lunar New Year) and Surkharban festival are widely celebrated.

Economy

The economy is based on mining, agriculture, and forestry. Key mineral resources include gold, uranium, coal, and tungsten, with major operations by companies like Uranium One and the Buryatzoloto gold mine. Agriculture focuses on livestock breeding, particularly cattle, sheep, and yaks, as well as grain production. The Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill was a significant industrial enterprise before its controversial closure. Tourism, centered on Lake Baikal and ecotourism, is a growing sector, with visitors drawn to sites like the Barguzin Valley and the Holy Nose Peninsula.

Government and politics

Buryatia is a republic within the framework of the Russian Federation. Its government operates under the Constitution of the Republic of Buryatia, with power vested in the Head, currently Aleksey Tsydenov, and the regional parliament, the People's Khural of the Republic of Buryatia. The republic sends representatives to the Federation Council and the State Duma. It is part of the Far Eastern Federal District for administrative purposes. Major political parties include United Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia.

Category:Republics of Russia Category:Siberia Category:Lake Baikal