Buryatia
Encyclopedia : B : BU : BUR : Buryatia
The Buryat Republic (Russian: ; Buryat: Буряад Республика) is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic). The direct transliteration of the republic's name is Respublika Buryatiya in Russian and Buryaad Respublika in Buryat.
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| Capital | Ulan-Ude | ||||
| Area - total - % water | Ranked 17th - 351,300 km² - negligible | ||||
| Population - Total - Density | Ranked 56th - est. 981,238 (2002) - est. 2.8/km² | ||||
| Political status | Republic | ||||
| Federal districts of Russia>Federal district | Siberian Federal District | ||||
| Economic regions of Russia>Economic Region | East Siberia | ||||
| Cadaster # | 03 | ||||
| Official languages | Russian, Buryat | ||||
| President | Leonid Vasilyevich Potapov | ||||
| Chairman of the Government | Leonid Vasilyevich Potapov | ||||
| Legislature | People's Khural | ||||
| Anthem | National Anthem of Buryatia | ||||
Contents
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 (W).
- *international: Mongolia (S/SE).
- *water: Lake Baikal (N).
- Highest point: Mount Munku-Sardyk (3,491 m).
Time zone
Buryatia is located in the Irkutsk Time Zone (IRKT/IRKST). UTC offset is +0800 (IRKT)/+0900 (IRKST).
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 divisions
Demographics
Over 100 nationalities and ethnic groups inhabit Buryatia, including Russians (69.9%), Buryats (24%), Ukrainians (2.2%), Tatars (1%), and Belarusians (0.5%) (figures based on 1989 census).
- 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 Buryatia is the President, who is elected for a four-year term. As of 2006, the President is Leonid Vasilyevich Potapov, who was elected on July 1, 1994, re-elected in 1998 (with 63.25% of votes), and then re-elected again on June 23, 2002 (with over 67% of votes). Prior to the elections, Potapov was the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic—the highest post at that time.The Republic's parliament is the People's Khural, popularly elected every four years. The People's Khural has 65 deputies.
The Republic's Constitution was adopted on February 22, 1994.
Economy
The republic's economy is composed of important agricultural and commercial products including wheat, vegetables, potatoes, timber, leather, graphite and textiles. Fishing, hunting, fur farming, sheep and cattle farming, mining, stock raising, engineering, 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
Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism), Shamanism, and Orthodox Christianity are the most widespread religions in Buryatia.Tourism
Lake Baikal is a popular tourist destination.See also
External links
- () [Official website of the Buryat Republic].
- () [Official website of the Buryat Republic].
- [Official website of the Buryat Republic] (in Buryat).
- () () [Official website of Buryat State Academy of Agriculture].
- () [Official website of East Siberian State Academy of Arts and Culture].
- () () [A free and independent travel guide for Lake Baikal and the Republic of Buryatia Made from travellers for travellers!].
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