Gorno-Altaysk (russian: Го́рно-Алта́йск, a=Горно-Алтайск.ogg, r=Gorno-Altaysk, p=ˈgornə ɐlˈtajsk; ;
historically, pre-1932: Ulala) is the
capital town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
of the
Altai Republic,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
.
The population stands at around 64,000 people as of 2020 with steady growth over the recent years. In the past the town was known as ''Ulala'' (up until June 23, 1932)
and then ''Oyrot-Tura'' (June 23, 1932 - January 7, 1948).
History
The ''
selo'' of Ulala () was established in 1824 when migrants moved to this area from
Biysk
Biysk ( rus, Бийск, p=bʲijsk) is a city in Altai Krai, Russia, located on the Biya River not far from its confluence with the Katun River. It is the second largest city of the krai (after Barnaul, the administrative center of the krai). Popu ...
.
[Charter of Gorno-Altaysk, Article 2] When
Oirot Autonomous Oblast was established on June 1, 1922, Ulala became its
administrative center
An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located.
In countries with French as administrative language (such as Belgium, Lu ...
.
On February 27, 1928, Ulala was granted town status and on June 23, 1932, it was renamed Oyrot-Tura ().
The present name was given to the town on January 7, 1948.
Climate
Gorno-Altaysk has a
humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...
(
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...
''Dfb'') characterised by frigid winters and warm to very warm summers. Precipitation is moderate and is much higher in the hotter summer months than in the frigid winter season, when it falls entirely as low-water-content snow.
Administrative and municipal status
Gorno-Altaysk is the
capital of the republic.
[Constitution of the Altai Republic, Article 145] Within the
framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as Gorno-Altaysk
Urban Okrug—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the
districts.
[Law #101-RZ] As a
municipal division, this administrative unit also has urban okrug status.
[Law #10-RZ]
Transportation
The town is served by the
Gorno-Altaysk Airport, with regular flights to the city of Moscow and a few other major Russian cities.
Highway M52 passes through Gorno-Altaysk, connecting it with
Novosibirsk in the north and the
Mongolian border in the south.
The closest railway station is from Gorno-Altaysk. It is located in the city of
Biysk
Biysk ( rus, Бийск, p=bʲijsk) is a city in Altai Krai, Russia, located on the Biya River not far from its confluence with the Katun River. It is the second largest city of the krai (after Barnaul, the administrative center of the krai). Popu ...
.
Culture, sports and education
The town hosts a theater as well as several cinemas, the
Gorno-Altaisk State University, and the
Anokhin Museum The Anokhin Museum () is a national museum located in Gorno-Altaysk, Altai Republic, Russia.
General Information
The Anokhin Museum is the national museum of the republic, located in Gorno-Altaysk, the capital city of Altai Republic, in the Chinese ...
. The mountains located within the town's boundaries are a magnet for skiing as well as backpacking. Several football fields with artificial grass are available to the public for free.
Infrastructure condition
Only the most vital streets in Gorno-Altaysk are kept in good condition as of 2020. The rivers are safe to swim in and the tap water is safe to drink. Most of the buildings have central heating, usually powered by a gas burning station serving either one or several buildings.
Notes
References
Sources
*
*
*
*
External links
Official website of Gorno-Altaysk
*Gorno-Altaysk Business Director
jsprav.ruOfficial website of the Gorno-Altaysk State University
{{Authority control
Tomsk Governorate
Populated places established in 1824