Irkutsk Oblast

Irkutsk Oblast is an administrative region in the Siberian Federal District in Russia. It covers part of Lake Baikal and large forested areas with pine and spruce trees.

The area was established as a separate administrative unit in September 1937. This formalization followed a long period of Russian settlement activity in eastern Siberia.

The region's name comes from the city of Irkutsk, which itself took its name from the Irkut River, a tributary of the Angara. Visitors can experience Russian Orthodox monasteries, Buryat Buddhist temples, and shamanist practices in communities spread across different parts of the territory.

The Trans-Siberian Railway runs through the area and connects it with other regions of Russia. Irkutsk is the capital and serves as a starting point for journeys within the oblast.

Lake Baikal in the region holds about one-fifth of the world's unfrozen freshwater. Its depth exceeds that of any other lake on Earth.

Location: Russia

Inception: September 26, 1937

Capital city: Irkutsk

Part of: Siberian Federal District

Shares border with: Krasnoyarsk Krai, Tuva, Buryatia, Zabaykalsky Krai, Sakha

Website: http://irkobl.ru

GPS coordinates: 57.36667,106.00000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:00