Bratsk, Industrial city in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia
Bratsk is an industrial city in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, located along the Angara River and shaped by the extensive Bratsk Reservoir. The city spreads across several districts connected by wide roads and green spaces between concrete residential blocks.
A wooden fortress arose here in 1631 at the mouth of the Oka into the Angara to secure Russian control over the region. Construction of the hydroelectric dam in the 1950s and 1960s transformed the small settlement into a major industrial center.
The name comes from the Russian word for brothers, referencing a peace treaty between Russian settlers and local Buryat communities. Residents today use the wide riverbanks for fishing and walking, while in winter many head out onto the frozen water surfaces for ice fishing.
Buses connect the different residential areas with industrial zones and the city center at regular intervals. Winters are long and very cold, so visitors should come between May and September when temperatures are milder and days are longer.
The old wooden fortress from the 17th century was moved piece by piece to higher ground before the reservoir was flooded. Some of the original wooden beams and towers now stand in an open-air museum and show Siberian construction methods of that time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
