Irkutsk, Regional capital in Eastern Siberia, Russia
Irkutsk is a major city in eastern Siberia and the administrative center of the region, sitting on the Angara River. The urban area spreads across both banks at an elevation of 440 meters (1444 feet), enclosed by forested hills and mountain ridges.
A wooden fort was built on this site in 1661 by Jakov Pokhabov, establishing a Russian presence along the Angara River. The settlement quickly became a trading hub on the routes connecting Russia with China and Mongolia.
Theaters, concert halls and the art museum host performances and exhibitions that draw both local audiences and visitors throughout the year. The museum displays Russian and Siberian paintings that reflect regional artistic traditions dating back centuries.
The international airport offers flights to Moscow, Saint Petersburg and several Asian cities, serving as the main entry point for trips to Lake Baikal. Most visitors use the city as a base before continuing to the lake, located about 70 kilometers (43 miles) to the east.
Winter temperatures regularly drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 Fahrenheit), shaping how buildings are designed and how daily life unfolds during the coldest months. Many older wooden houses feature double windows and thick walls to keep interiors warm through the long Siberian winter.
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