Altai Republic


The Altai Republic, also known as the Gorno-Altai Republic, is a republic of Russia located in southern Siberia. The republic borders Kemerovo Oblast to the north, Khakassia to the northeast, Tuva to the east, Altai Krai to the west, as well as three countries: Mongolia to the southeast, China to the south and Kazakhstan to the southwest. It is a part of the Siberian Federal District, and covers an area of, with a population of 210,924 residents. It is the least-populous republic of Russia and least-populous federal subject in the Siberian Federal District. Gorno-Altaysk is the capital and the largest town of the republic with 65,342 inhabitants and in urban areas, making it the least urbanized federal subject.
The Altai Republic is one of Russia's ethnic republics, primarily representing the indigenous Altai people, a Turkic ethnic group that form 37% of the republic's population, while ethnic Russians form a majority at 54%. Other minority populations include Kazakhs, other Central Asian ethnicities, and Germans. The official languages of the Altai Republic are Russian and Altai. Kazakh is official in areas of compact settlement of its speakers.

History

The Xiongnu Empire governed the territory of the modern Altai Republic. The area was part of the First Turkic Khaganate, the Uyghur Empire, and the Yeniseian Kyrgyzs. It was during this time that the local population became fully Turkicized culturally and linguistically.
The southern part of the Altai Republic came under the Naiman Khanate. The territory of the modern Altai Republic has been ruled by the Mongolic Xianbei state, Rouran Khaganate, Mongol Empire, Golden Horde, Zunghar Khanate and Qing Empire.
The Qing period is a semi-autonomous period with the supervision of two Altan Nuur Uriankhai Governor Banners and part of the seven Altai Uriankhai banners. During the Qing administration, the General of Siberia Fedor Ivanovich Soimonov launched a non-military expedition into the Altan Nuur region in 1760 and began fort building. This was subsequently removed by Heseri Jalafungga of the Qing. Since the 1820s, the routine border check was less frequent and the Chuy drainage basin has been occupied by Russians.
The entire Altan Nuur Uriankhai voluntarily became part of the Russian Empire in 1864-1865 by the Treaty of Tarbagatai. During the Russian Civil War, the Confederated Republic of Altai was established in 1918, and declared as the first step to rebuilding Genghis Khan's Mongol Empire. But it never became a competing force in the Russian Civil War, and stayed neutral from 1918 until January 1920, when it was annexed back into Russia. A second Altai Republic was formed in 1921 and lasted until 1922 when they were annexed by the Bolsheviks.
On June 1, 1922, the Altaians regained autonomy with the creation of the Oyrot Autonomous Oblast, part of Altai Krai. The original name for this region was Bazla. On January 7, 1948, it was renamed Gorno-Altai Autonomous Oblast. In 1991 it was reorganized into the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992 it was renamed as the Altai Republic.

Geography

The Altai Republic is situated in the Altai Mountains in the very center of Asia at the junction of the Siberian taiga, the steppes of Kazakhstan and the semi-deserts of Mongolia. Forests cover about 25% of the republic's territory.
More than 20,000 tributaries sprawl throughout the mountainous Republic, making for a total of more than worth of waterways. The republic's largest rivers are the Katun and the Biya, both of which originate in the mountains and flow northwards. The junction of the two rivers eventually forms the Ob River, one of the longest rivers in Siberia, which flows northward to the Arctic Ocean.
The source of the black Biya River is Lake Teletskoye, the region's largest lake located in an isolated area far south in the mountains. The emerald-colored Katun River has its source at the Gebler glacier, which is situated on the Republic's highest point, Mount Belukha. The Katun River, in particular, holds a religious significance for native Altaians, as well as for many Russians who live in the area, as Mount Belukha is known in Altai folklore to be the gateway to the mystical kingdom of Shambhala.
The hydrographic network of the Republic also includes approximately 7,000 lakes, adding up to a total area of more than. The largest lake is Lake Teletskoye, which is long and wide, has an area of, and has a maximum depth of. The mountain lakes of Altai contain enormous freshwater reserves of a very pure quality as a result of their distance from civilization. Lake Teletskoye alone contains more than of very clear water.
Potential groundwater storage is evaluated at per day, while the present use constitutes about per day.

Mountains

The most striking geographical aspect of the Republic of Altai is its mountainous terrain. The Republic is situated within the Russian part of the Altai Mountains system, which covers a large part of the Republic and continues into neighboring Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. The region continues to experience periodic notable seismic activity, which is visually made apparent through the mountains' characteristically high and rugged mountain ridges, separated by narrow and deep river valleys. The Republic's highest peak, Mount Belukha, is the highest point in Siberia.

Natural resources

Various bodies of water are among the most important natural resources of the Republic. Mineral and hot springs are popular destinations for tourists and locals, sought for their therapeutic effects. Additionally, Altai glaciers contain a great amount of fresh water. The general volume of ice for registered Altai glaciers comes to a total of 57 km3, 52 km3 of which is water. The total water stock of the glaciers exceeds the average annual effluence of all Altai rivers, which are equal to 43 km3 per year. The largest glaciers are Bolshoy Taldurinsky, Mensu, Sofiysky, and Bolshoy Maashey.
Mineral resources in the region primarily include gold, silver, iron ores, and lithium, in addition to other smaller amounts of minerals. The large city of Barnaul in neighboring Altai Krai was founded as a processing center for minerals from the Altai region, although the mineral extraction industry today is much smaller than in the past.

Climate

The republic has a temperate continental climate with relatively short and mild summers ; and long, cold, and often quite frosty winters.
In general, the republic's climate of the southeastern areas, such as the, is harsher than the climate of the less elevated northern areas.
  • 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

The Altai Republic is administratively divided into ten districts and Gorno-Altaysk Urban Okrug. The districts are further subdivided into ninety-two selsovets.

Demographics

Population:

Vital statistics

Average population Live birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate Crude death rate Natural change Fertility rates
19701683,2361,4861,75019.38.810.4-
19751703,8051,7242,08122.410.112.2-
19801753,8412,0821,75921.911.910.1-
19851854,2562,0972,15923.011.311.7-
19901943,7532,1261,62719.310.98.42,52
19911963,5792,0641,51518.210.57.72,41
19921973,2632,27199216.611.55.02,25
19931972,8782,63024814.613.41.32,00
19941982,9312,8755614.814.50.32,03
19951992,8532,63721614.313.21.11,93
19962002,7042,56713713.512.80.71,80
19972002,6862,54713913.412.70.71,77
19982012,9232,36755614.511.82.81,89
19992022,7422,53620613.612.61.01,74
20002032,9072,64526214.313.01.31,82
20012033,0332,87016314.914.10.81,87
20022033,2523,06119116.015.10.91,98
20032033,3923,17321916.715.71.12,04
20042023,5133,01549817.414.92.52,08
20052023,5023,17033217.315.71.62,03
20062023,3952,83755816.814.12.81,93
20072024,0662,5741,49220.112.77.42,29
20082034,4422,5491,89321.912.59.32,48
20092044,2662,4921,77420.912.28.72,48
20102064,2242,5081,71620.612.28.32,48
20112074,7192,5292,19022.712.210.52,84
20122094,6932,4162,27722.411.510.92,91
20132114,4422,3922,02721.111.39.82,82
20142134,4042,3652,03920.711.19.62,88
20152144,0222,3471,67518.710.97.82,68
20162163,9112,1511,76018.110.08.12,63
20172173,4432,0991,34415.89.66.2