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Buryatia: The Heart of Baikal

facts about buryatia

Buryatia – A Land of Exceptional Natural Beauty and Wealth

A region as vast as it is filled with myths, legends, places of power, and simply enchanting views. Here, you can easily encounter reindeer and yaks, camels and Baikal seals, climb mountain peaks, and bathe in open-air hot mineral springs

History and Culture

In the 1920s, the republic was known as the Buryat-Mongolian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
Buryat lands were part of the Rouran Khaganate, the Mongol Empire, and the Northern Yuan Dynasty.
Buddhism is widely practiced, having spread from Mongolia in the 17th century throughout Transbaikalia.
Cultural landmarks include stupas (suburgans) along roads and traditional offering practices.
The Buryat language holds official status in the republic.

Geography and Capital

The republic is located on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal, with Irkutsk Oblast lying on the western shore.
Ulan-Ude has been the capital throughout the republic's history.
Buryatia's territory is nearly three times larger than Greece.
Some districts have climate conditions equivalent to the Far North.
Buryatia enjoys more sunny days than southern Russia.

Nature and Climate

83% of the territory is forested.
Home to 2 nature reserves, 3 national parks, and 13 wildlife sanctuaries.
Hosts over 440 species of terrestrial vertebrates.
Features only 6 amphibian and 7 reptile species.
The Severomuysky Tunnel is the longest in Russia.
Contains over 30,000 rivers and 35,000 lakes, with just 25 classified as large or medium-sized.
Total river length reaches 150,000 kilometers.
Over 60% of Lake Baikal's coastline lies within the republic.

Mineral and Natural Resources

More than 700 mineral deposits.
247 gold deposits.
Russia's largest beryllium deposit.
15 million tons of coal mined annually.

Baikal and the Protected Lands

The Deepest Lake on the Planet

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Baikal Does Not Age

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The Bottom is Visible from the Height of a 12-Story Building

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Over Half of Baikal's Animals and Plants
are Endemic

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Underwater oil "fountains" gush
from the lake floor.

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Baikal Has an Inhabited Island

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Baikal's Water is Cold

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Baikal's Winds Have Unique Names

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Baikal Has 300 Sunny Days a Year

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This is Baikal's primary and most renowned distinction. Its maximum recorded depth is 1,642 meters—nearly five times the height of the Eiffel Tower. The lake's average depth is approximately 750 meters.

The average lifespan of most lakes is 10,000-20,000 years. In contrast, scientists estimate Baikal's age at 25-35 million years. Remarkably, the lake shows no signs of aging—it is not turning into a swamp nor filling with sediment. On the contrary, it continues to grow.

Yes, you read that correctly—you can actually see the bottom at depths of up to 40 meters. Baikal's water is pure and transparent. The remarkable water of Baikal changes its color throughout the year. In spring, it appears blue and is at its most transparent, while by autumn, as algae bloom and bacteria multiply, it can shift to shades of deep blue and green.

Endemic species are confined to a specific territory and are found nowhere else on the planet. Among Baikal's well-known endemics are the nerpa (Baikal seal), the sturgeon, and the omul fish. In total, the lake and its surroundings are home to about 1,000 species of endemic organisms. Some of them can be observed in the wild—for instance, the Ushkany Islands host the largest haul-out site for the nerpa.

Experts estimate that about six tons of oil enter Baikal's waters annually from such sources. Despite this, the lake remains clean. Natural "pollution" is managed by oil-oxidizing bacteria of the genus Rhodococcus—they essentially "consume" the oil, preventing it from spreading across the lake. Oil extraction in Baikal is prohibited, as it could lead to an ecological catastrophe. Moreover, Baikal's oil is difficult to access, making its extraction economically unviable.

Baikal is not only an endless expanse of water but also home to several dozen islands. The largest and only inhabited one is Olkhon Island, with a total area of 730 km². As of 2017, its permanent population was 1,682 people. You can and should visit Olkhon to see Shamanka Rock (Shaman Rock) – one of the island's main landmarks and a pilgrimage site for Buryat and Yakut shamans. You can also admire the golden sands of Saraysky Bay and join local guides to explore Baikal's most sacred sites. Olkhon is considered the geographical and historical center of Baikal.

Experienced travelers recommend swimming in the "Siberian Sea" only in late summer and in shallow areas – bays with gently sloping bottoms. In these spots, the water can warm up to +22°C in July-August. It's better not to venture into other parts of the lake for a swim – even in summer, the water temperature in open areas does not exceed +15°C. An interesting fact about the ice: like the water, it changes color – it can be black (as in the photo), turquoise, transparent, or milky white.

Swimming in Baikal is challenging not only because of the cold water but also due to the winds that blow here year-round. Meteorologists have recorded over 30 types of air currents, each with its own name. For example, the Barguzin wind blows in the central part of Baikal and brings sunny weather, while the Kultuk, on the contrary, accompanies rainy days. These winds stir up storms with steep, frequent waves reaching heights of up to 6 meters. An interesting fact: the lake almost never experiences complete calm.

Despite the cold water and winds, Baikal enjoys an abundance of sunshine. Olkhon Island has more sunny days than many southern regions of Russia. Come here if you want to stock up on vitamin D – Baikal has plenty of it!

Barguzin Nature Reserve

The very first state nature reserve of Russia, nestled on the northeastern coast of Lake Baikal – the cradle of Russia’s nature reserve system.

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Transbaikal National Park

A place where pristine natural territories and breathtaking, diverse landscapes blend seamlessly with abundant opportunities for recreation and exploration.

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Frolikhinsky Federal Nature Reserve

At its heart lies the magnificent Lake Frolikha – a stunning alpine jewel, framed by majestic peaks and celebrated as the sanctuary’s crowning treasure.

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The Legacy of Nomads and Buddhism

Buryatia is the only region in Russia where Buddhism is recognized as an official religion.

Prayer wheels have since ancient times been an inseparable part of Buddhist culture. They were erected in countless numbers in Tibet and Mongolia, Nepal, Buryatia, Tuva, and Kalmykia – everywhere Buddhism spread widely.

According to Buddhist legend, the origin of the khurde is linked to a time long ago, before the advent of Buddha Shakyamuni, when the teachings of the Tathagata Dipankara flourished on Earth.

The Benefit of Spinning the Khurde. Buddhist texts state that simply spinning a prayer wheel with pure intentions is equivalent to reciting aloud the millions of mantras contained within it.

Beef cattle farming, sheep breeding, crop production, and food processing form the cornerstone of the region's agricultural economy

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Gold, uranium, nephrite jade – the region holds up to 90% of Russia's total reserves of these strategically important minerals

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With over 300 sunny days annually, the region boasts unique natural attractions like the Zmeiny and Arshan thermal springs

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The structure of the economy

over 700 mineral deposits

300 gold deposits

13 uranium deposits

10 brown coal deposits

4 hard coal deposits

2 asbestos deposits

7 tungsten deposits

4 polymetallic ore deposits

3 molybdenum deposits

3 beryllium deposits

300 gold deposits

13 uranium deposits

10 brown coal deposits

4 hard coal deposits

2 asbestos deposits

7 tungsten deposits

4 polymetallic ore deposits

3 molybdenum deposits

3 beryllium deposits

The structure of the economy

The subsoil of Buryatia contains

52% of Russia's proven zinc reserves

24% of Russia's proven lead reserves

32% of Russia's proven molybdenum reserves

32% of Russia's proven tungsten reserves

18% of Russia's proven chrysotile asbestos reserves

8% of Russia's proven uranium reserves

90% of Russia's proven nephrite jade reserves

52% of Russia's proven zinc reserves

24% of Russia's proven lead reserves

32% of Russia's proven molybdenum reserves

32% of Russia's proven tungsten reserves

18% of Russia's proven chrysotile asbestos reserves

8% of Russia's proven uranium reserves

90% of Russia's proven nephrite jade reserves

History

From Nomadic Tribes to Modern Research

1923 Establishment of the Buryat-Mongolian ASSR. Buryatia was founded as a republic in 1923. On May 30 – the date celebrated as Republic Day – the Buryat-Mongolian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed, with Verkhneudinsk as its capital (renamed Ulan-Ude in 1934).

1958 Renaming to the Buryat ASSR. In July 1958, the region was officially renamed the Buryat ASSR. In the spring of 2017, the authorities established Republic Day, and the People's Khural deputies officially designated May 30 as a public holiday.

2023 Centennial of the Republic. In 2023, the “taiga lake land” celebrated its 100th anniversary on a grand scale. To mark the centenary, commemorative silver coins and a jubilee medal were issued in Russia. The medal’s design was selected through a public online vote, with the winning sketch receiving 22.01% of the votes.

Tourism and Gastronomy

Travel and Savor Buryatia!

Discover the nature, culture, and flavors of Buryatia—travel, explore, and savor authentic Buryat cuisine.

Shaman Rock is one of the legendary landmarks of Lake Baikal. The image of this twin-peaked cliff has been reproduced countless times as the quintessential symbol of the Baikal region.

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