Altaï, Altay - Republic of Russia

Altay - Republic of Russia

ALTAY - Altaï - Republic of Russia

The Altai Republic (Russian: Республика Алтай) is a republic of the Russian Federation (a republic).

The republic of Altai is a region of mountains in the great landscape, a kind of "Russian Tibet" located in the center of Eurasia at the junction of different States, ecosystems and cultures. The capital of the republic is Gorno-Altaisk, it lies about 100 km south of Biïsk on the Trans-Siberian railway.

Where does the word “Altay” come from?

Two theories are running around to explain the name of this Russian republic. First, the name “Altay” may come from the Mongolian word "Golden mountains". Many of the Mongolian city of places are called so: (Altan….) Even if “Altai” was never included in the famous places for gold, the are a good number of popular fields for gold in Altay, such as “Eldorado” or “Kolyma”. But “Altay” word might mean also "motley mountains". This Mongolian word also shows the general shape of this region of Russia.

Geographical position of Altay republic

Altai (or Altay) stretches from North-West to South-East for about 2000 kilometres. Having climbed a slope somewhere in the valley of the Chui River it’s possible to see that the slope directed northward is overgrown with thick grass, and the opposite slope languid with the heat is covered with dry grassy steppes, thorny bushes of acacia and barberries. So Altay is a mix of different landscapes that give a taste of adventure to all traveller that enjoy this part of Russia. When mid-summer arrives, at the bottom of the valley where the white waters of the Chui flow, at the crests of high ridges an early spring begins. Then travellers all agree that Altai is motley mountains. Altai is so diverse, that it may satisfy the taste of any traveller.

Possible travel to Altay

It’s possible to travel in Altai by foot, by ski, riding horse (like in Mongolia) or camel, by helicopter or hand glider and paraglide, by light sporting boats on rapid mountain rivers or simply comfortable motor ships on Lake Teletskoye which can be called Altyn Kyol (Golden Lake).

If you are well equipped for alpinism, you may go on icefalls and sheer rocks to transcendental tops of the highest Siberian mountains or in fathomless pits of the deepest caves. You may also travel with aqualungs along the bottoms of transparent mountain lakes or with guns in taiga pursuing an expensive hunting trophy. All kind of turism all possible in this part of Russia. And it’s part of the charms of this republic of Russia.

History of Altay

The very first European travellers, who arrived in Altay region a century ago found an incredible resemblance between Altai and the Switzerland Alps.

For this reason, Altay is often called “Siberian Switzerland”, “North-Tchuya Alps”, the “Katun Alps”. The swiss tourist, who travelled to Altai, talked about this resemblance and said with unconcealed envy, that only here one may imagine the Alps as they were before tourist came in. Today fortunetly for travellers. There aren’t large hotels and roads in Altai (but be quick!!!). The majority of geographical discoveries in Altai were made last century. But even now, we still may find some incredible things in this un known part of Russia.

This region of Russia was so remote that it’s only at the end of the 70ies that the deepest caves were discovered and explored in the river-head of the Ustyuba and in Seminsky Ridge. Scientists thought that an explorations of this part of Altay would not be useful but they were wrong.

Around 1975 the waterfall on the Chulcha River gained great popularity and many travellers came here to visit this wonder of the nature. This biggest waterfall has the total fall height of 160 m and is a marvelous view. It’s quite impressive to see this waterfall of Russia.

The flag of Altay

The geography of Altai

Altay republic is located in the centre of Asia at the junction of Siberian taiga, the steppes of Kazakhstan and the desert of Mongolia. In Altaï, forests cover about 25% of the territory.

Total area of Altay: 92.600 sq. km

Borders with: Internal Kemerovo Oblast (North), Khakasiya (North-East), Republic of Tuva (East), and the Altai Krai (West / North-West).
International: Mongolia (South-East), China (South) and Kazakhstan (Sotuh / South-West)

Highest point of Altay: Belukha Mountain (4506 m)

Maximum distance North to South : 360 km

Maximum East to West distance: 380 km

Rivers and lake in Altay republic

More than 20 000 tributaries extend across the mountainous Republic, offsetting a total of over 60,000 kilometers value of waterways. Most major rivers in the Republic are the Katoun and Biya, who come from the mountains and flowing north. The junction of two rivers form by following the river Ob, one of the longest rivers in Siberia, which flows north in the Arctic Ocean.

The source of the river Biya black east Teletskoïe Lake, the largest lake in the region located in a remote southern sector of isolation in the mountains. The river emerald-coloured Katun has its source in Glacier Gebler, which is located on the highest point of the Republic, built Belukha. The river is particularly Katoun religious significance for indigenous Altaians, as well as for many Russians that phase in the sector, as built Belukha is known in the folklore of Altai for the transition to Shambhala mystique.

The drainage system of the Republic also includes approximately 7 000 lakes, in addition to a total area of over 700 sq. km. The largest lake is Lake Teletskoïe, which has 80 km long, 5 km wide, an area of 230.8 sq km and a maximum depth of 325 m. The mountain lakes of Altai contain enormous reserves of fresh water of a quality very pure because of their distance from most human activities. The lake Teletskoïe contains more than 40 km ³ of very pure water.

The storage potential of groundwater is estimated at 22 million cubic meters per day, while the current use is about 44,000 cubic metres per day

The climate of Altay

Many aspects affect the climate of this region of Russia. The geographical location of the republic, the altitude (from 450m until 4500m) and the different relief.

Due to his great distance to ocean, the majority of Altay has a temperate continental climate with cold winters and hot summer. The same weather prevails in Mongolia.

The continental arcitic air is reaching the region all year long and sometime humid air from as far as Atlantic ocean. The mountainous relief brings also warm western and south-western winds, local cyclone.

As we said before, relief greatly affects the climate of Gorny Altai and forms vertical climatic zones - the zone of lowland climate (up to 500-600 m); the zone of midland climate (from 500 up to 1500 m and over); the zone of highland climate (over 2000-2500 m).

In winter continental arctic air, bring very cold air and low temperatures in Altay.; western and north-western air masses of low pressure are the source of abundant snow-falls; western and south-western winds bring cloudless and dry weather. Average temperatures in Gorny Altai vary from +4°C in the south and west to -7°C in highlands zone.

Transport and communication in Altay

The main means of transportation in Altai is surely motor transport, carrying out more then 90% of all kinds of traffic. The extent of roads in the Altai Republic is more 3,5 thousand km, including:

Statistic of Altay republic concerning transportation

There are about 17,3 km of hard pavement roads for every 1000sq km in Altay republic, compared to average of 26,7 km for every thousand km of the territory of Russia. Here, gravel covered roads prevail. Tchuisky Highway has hard pavement along the whole length.
The main traffic artery of the Altai Republic is highway Novosibirsk-Biysk-Tashnta (Tchuisky Highway), with the extent of 572 km. This is the road of federal significance providing external (interstate) and regional transportation communication. Over 50-70 thousand tonnes of freights are annually carried by to Mongolia this road. Cattle, wool and other agricultural production is carried from Mongolia to Russia.
Besides, this is the only arterial road connecting the capital of the Altai Republic with other regions of Russia. Communication with the nearest railroad station situated in Biysk (approximately 100 km away) is conducted by means of this highway.

Automobile road Biysk-Turochak-Artybash is of republican significance. It is 125 km long and provides communication between Turochak Region (its logging industry) and processing enterprises of Biysk, as well as with Biysk Railroad Station, In Addition, this road serves tourist enterprises of the Teletskoye Lake.

Automobile road Inya - Ust-Koksa - Ust-Kan - Tuyekta, with the extent of 334 km, provides communication of settlements of Ust-Koksinsky and Ust-Kansky Regions with Tchuisky Highway.

Automobile road Ust-Sema - Tchemal - Yelanda - Kuyus connects the right-bank of lower reaches of the Katun River with the Republican center - the city of Gorno-Altaisk. The road stretches in complicated conditions.

Air transport is currently presented by "Gorny Altai" Airlines. In Altay, there are 3 airports (Gorno-Altaisk, Ust-Koksa, Kosh-Agach) and several helicopter grounds in the Altai Republic.
Republican capital airport carries out internal flights only.

The Republic does not have own railway network, and the nearest railroad station is situated in Biysk being 100 km away from Gorno-Altaisk. So keep that in mind if you plan to go to Altay.

Some usefull address for your travel to Altay:

Gorno-Altaisk Airport, Terminal of the Altai Regional Agency for Air Transportation
51, Kommunistichesaky av., Gorno-Altaisk, 659700 Tel.: (388-22)-25-008.
Drawing-up of airline tickets - from Barnual Airport

Gorno-Altaisk Bus Terminal, Gorno-Altaisk Passenger Transportation Enterprise
55, Kommunistichesaky av., Gorno-Altaisk , 649000
Tel.: (388-22)-22-457
Drawing-up of bus tickets - from Gorno-Altaisk Bus Terminal; railroad tickets - from Biysk Railroad Station.

Communication in the Altai Republic

The main telecommunication provider in Altai is JSC "Electrosvyaz" (51/1 Tchoros- Gurkina str., Gorno-Altaisk). Telephone (38822) 9-52-52 E-mail: aku@gorny.ru, operator@gorny.ru

Interregional and international telephony is availble in any regional centre of the Altai Republic.

Altay, region by region

Maiminsky region

This region is located in the north of Altay and is considered to be one of the greatest places of Altay in regards of its recreational development. In Maiminsky, there are a couple of tourist centers, as well as numerous places for "non-organized tourism", along river-coasts, espacially. The region is very popular due to bordering on the Altai Region, and also due to its ransportation network (better then in other part of Altay) and one of the most developed infrastructures as compared to the other regions of the Republic.

Touristically, the Maiminsky Region is one of the most attractive for "non-organized tourism" but unfortunetly, it’s the region the most subjected to ecological probelm.

A nice Altaian restaurant called "Merkit" is located not too far from the village of Maima. You may eat quite well the traditional altaian dishes. In this region, you may also visit the museum of Kazakh culture (ail), situated near the bridge to the Aya Lake. It’S also interesting to visit the V.Y. Shishkov's monument (115 km of the Tchuisky Highway). You may also want to go to the lake Manzherok or to the mineral spring water Arzhan-Suu, to Taldinskiye Caves or visit the archeological monument near the village of Souzga - the site "Souzga". As you see, there are many things to discover in this region of Altay.

The climate of Maiminsky is continental like many other places of Siberia. The precipitation amount is about 800 mm, with the half falling in summer time.

Region of Tchoisky

This region has no big objects of tourism, no recreational base or places of note. But even there, the so-called "rural tourism" is now under development in Tchoisky Region (reception of tourists at the local people's houses, meals, residence, excursions, recreation). Local population may offer tourists hunting and fishing recreation. It can be a very nice vacation if you pass by and a great way to encourage small business living from tourist.

The maximum temperatures in July is around +33°C, while winter can be extremely cold. It can easily reaches -44. So, if you want to travel in winter in Siberia, be more than ready. I’m Canadian and use to cold weather but when I’ve been working in Mongolia during the coldest month, I must admit that I felt that Canada was no as hard for the weather (smile)… The amount of precipitation is about 800-1000 mm a year, most of them being in July and august..

As you will see, there is a small hotel in Choya (also said Tchoya). The rural tourism seems a great perspective for this nice but unknown region of Altay.

Region of Ongudaisky

This region welcomes tourists from all over the world due to its abundance of archeological, historical and ethnographic monuments. You may find many stone statues, burial mounds, settlement sites and rock drawings. The Seminsky Pass is of the greatest site to see in this region of Altay - it is the highest point of the Tchuisky Highway (1984 m above sea-level). In Altaian language this place was called Dial-Menku, meaning "Eternal Mountain". You can also visit the nice obelisk that was built in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the voluntary of of Gorny Altai joining to the Russian Empire. This obelisk is located in the highest point of the pass.

Region of Ust-Kansky

This nice region of Altay is rich in historical and archeological monuments of nature. When you will go to the village of Mendur-Sokkon, you can visit a museum dedicated to Regional Studies, and there's Altaian ail near the Museum.

You can also see the Denissov Cave, situated about 4 km from “Tchyorny Anui”. Another 4 km from Ust-Kan, you can visit another cave called Ust-Kanskaya, on the right bank of the Tcharysh, on the Beliy Kamen (the White Stone) Mountain. This cave date from about 20 000 to 50 000 years.

If you like rocks drawing, you may want to go near Kyrlyk village.

There are severals ways to go to Ust-Kan for travellers being in the region. First of all, is for people going to Ust-Kan after having visited the Denissov cave. There is a road in quite good condition that can bring you in Tchyorny Anui, Turata, Ust-Muta, Keley, The Keleisky Passage and Yakonur; the distance from Gorno-Altaisk - 222 km.

The other possibility is to travel trough Tchuisky Highway to the village of Tuekta, then turn right, 284 km from Gorno-Altaisk through the Yabogansky Pass, but here the road conditions are quite difficult.

Finally, the last option (and the shortest one) is to go to village Ust-Sema, then having reached village Tcherga - the road turns right and crosses the Verkh-Kukuisky and Tchakyrsky Passes, then the road from Yabogan reaches Ust-Kan. From Gorno-Altaisk and Ust-Kan go many buses every day.

In the villages of Mendur-Sokhon, you can find some hotels. At the time of writing a hotel complex is being built in the village of Ust-Kan. You will be able to enjoy the typical altain traditions.

Region of Shebalinsky

Shebalinsky

Region of Tchemalsky

The Region

Region of Ust-Koksinsky

Due
Region of Ulagansky

The valley of the river Bolshoi (Big)

Region of Kosh-Agachsky

The Tchuiskaya Steppe

Region of Turochaksky

The Teletskoye Lake is the most significant sight of the Region.