Altai Krai, Administrative region in southwestern Siberia, Russia
Altai Krai is an administrative region in southwestern Siberia that extends across plains and foothills, bordering the Altai Mountains. The territory encompasses different climate zones with wide temperature swings between summer and winter, along with extensive river systems that cut through the flat landscape.
The administrative unit was established on September 28, 1937, during Soviet times, carved out of larger Siberian territories. In later decades, the region remained a key agricultural zone shaped by state-run collective farm structures.
Villages and small towns maintain customs from the tsarist era, especially in settlements with German and Russian heritage, where old traditions remain visible in daily life. Local markets sell homemade goods, while people in rural areas follow seasonal rhythms tied to harvest cycles.
The landscape is open and expansive, with long roads running through fields and scattered settlements. Visitors should prepare for a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters.
The region grows grain, sunflowers and sugar beets on a large scale, making it a major food supplier for Russia. Wide fields alternate with rural districts that show a mix of modern farming and traditional village layouts.
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