Major Cities: The only town of the kray is Gorno-Altaysk.

Climate: Extreme continental climate. Average temperature in January is -12 to -30 C and in July is +9 to +18 C. Precipitation: 100 mm to 1,000 mm in the mountains.

Terrain: High mountain ranges (up to 4506 m above sea-level) are divided by deep valleys and wide basins.

Natural resources & Environment

Bodies of Water: The main rivers are the Biya and Katun with their tributaries. Teletskoye lake is located on the republic's territory.

Soils: Predominantly black and mountain-podzolic soils.

Flora: Forests cover 25% of the territory (mainly coniferous forests). Widely distributed types are larch, cedar, fir, silver fir, birch and aspen. Mountain-steppe and semi-desert vegetation with subalpine and alpine meadows in the mountains.

Fauna: Mountain goat, maral, elk, sable, squirrel, wolf, bear, fox, rodents, marmot.

Ecological Issues: The Altay Republic has the lowest pollution level among the territories of East and West Siberia. The "Altayskiy" and "Katunskiy" forest reserves have been created in the territory of the republic (total area 1,031,000 ha).

Natural Resources: Deposits of gold, mercury ores, marble, other building materials.

Population: 198,000, ranked 78th in Russia.

Urban Population: 52,000 (26%).

Rural Population: 146,000 (74%).

Population Density: 2.1 persons per 1 square km.

Natality Rate: 14.5 per 1,000 persons.

Mortality Rate: 13.3 per 1,000 persons.

Growth Rate: 1.2 per 1,000 persons.

Migration Ratio: 2.5 per 1,000 (500 people).

Ethnic Composition: 31% Altays, 60% Russians, 6% Kazakhs.

Health Services: 34.3 doctors and 156 beds per 10,000 persons.

Higher Education: 3,000 students were enrolled in 1 university of the kray and 3,000 students were enrolled in 5 specialized schools.

Research Centers: The Research Institute of History, Altay language and literature.

Culture: Numerous archaeological structures of the kray are well worth a visit.

Economy, Industry & Agriculture

Ranked 73rd in Russia in the per capita GDP (in 1995).

Industry: Ranked 78th in Russia in total industrial production. The main industrial center of the kray is Gorno-Altaysk.

Food processing: The food industry (35% of total industrial production) provides meat and dairy products, other products.

Consumer Goods: The consumer goods industry (30%) provides textiles, footwear, tulle.

Mining: The mining industry consists of gold mining.

Forestry & Paper: Timber and woodworking industry provides furniture, and wooden articles.

Building Materials: The building materials industry provides building brick and ferro-concrete structures and articles.

Building industry is of local importance. Ranked 77th in Russia in capital investment.

Agriculture: Ranked 71st in Russia in total agricultural production.

Farming: Grain (25%), fodder grass (71%), potatoes and vegetables.

Animal Husbandry: Dairy and beef cattle-breeding in the valleys of the Biya and Katun rivers, beef cattle-breeding, fine-wool sheep-breeding, maral-breeding are developed in the western part. Yak-breeding is developed in the mountains and camel-breeding in the Chuyskya valley.

Exports: Ranked 74th in Russia in the foreign trade sales (in 1995). The kray exports agricultural foodstuffs (73% of total kray's exports), chemicals (10%), textiles (6%).

Transportation

Distance from Moscow: 1,800 miles

Water and auto transportation plays the leading role in the kray's economy.

Rail: There are no railroad lines in the republic. Gorno-Altaysk is 96 km away from the closest railroad station (Biysk).

Auto: There is 1 main highway, the Chuyskiy highway.Travel from Moscow to Administrative Center: No direct rail or air communications.

By Auto: via Barnaul (248 km from Barnaul to Gorno-Altaysk).