Gorno-Altaysk, Capital city in Altai Republic, Russia.
Gorno-Altaysk is the capital of the Altai Republic in Western Siberia, where the Ulalushka and Maima rivers meet. Buildings spread across gentle hills and narrow valleys, with residential neighborhoods next to government buildings and small parks between paved streets.
The settlement began in 1824 as a trading post named Ulala and gradually developed into a hub between the mountains and the Siberian plains. In 1922, it became the administrative center of the newly formed Oirot Autonomous Oblast before receiving its current name in 1932.
The name Ulalushka, a river flowing through the center, comes from an Altai word for running water. At the central market, vendors sell traditional Altai products such as honey, herbs, and handwoven textiles that visitors can sample and buy directly.
The airport sits about 15 km (9 miles) outside the town center and offers connections to other Russian cities several times a week. The central bus stop is near the main market and provides access to surrounding villages and mountain valleys.
On some streets, domestic cattle graze between apartment blocks and shops, a habit that comes from village traditions in the region. Many residents still use small gardens behind their houses to grow vegetables and keep chickens.
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