Altai Krai is a federal subject of Russia (a krai). It borders, clockwise from the west, Kazakhstan (East Kazakhstan Region, Abai Region and Pavlodar Region), Novosibirsk and Kemerovo, and the Altai Republic. Its administrative centre is the city of Barnaul. As of the 2021 Census, the population of the krai was 2,163,693.

Name

The region is named after the Altai Mountains.

History

Bone fragments of the Denisova hominin originate from the Denisova Cave in Altai Krai.

This area is part of a great crossroads in the ancient world. Nomadic tribes crossed through the territory during periods of migration. These nomadic tribes consisted of different peoples. Archeological sites reveal that ancient humans lived in the area.

The territory of the krai has been controlled by the Xiongnu Empire (209 BC–93 AD), the Rouran Khaganate (330–555), the Mongol Empire (1206–1368), the Golden Horde, the Northern Yuan (1368–1691) and the Zunghar Khanate (1634–1758).

After the Russian Revolution and the rise of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the policy of war communism was imposed on the rural population of Altai Krai, destroying the livelihood of many local farmers. In response, the peasant rebellion of Sorokino broke out in 1921; this uprising was quickly crushed by the Red Army. Many locals who had taken part in the rebellion were later put on trial and convicted to hard labor or execution, in accordance with NKVD Order No. 00447 in 1937.

During the interwar period, the Soviet state collectivised the livestock and husbandry activities of the Altai population within Altai Krai, resulting in local resistance to the measures and their subsequent migration, with their herds, to China and Mongolia.

In June 1942 Altai Krai was one of the territories to which the families of men deported from Eastern Europe, in particular "foreigners" and "other ethnicities" such as Kola Norwegians, Lithuanians and Latvians, by Soviet Russia to GULAG hard labor camps.

Geography

thumb|upright=1.5|right|[[Ob Plateau, Altai Krai. The east–west "spikes" are ravines in the surface of the area; they lie slightly lower than the surrounding, lighter-toned agricultural lands. The dark zones are forested with pines and dotted with salt-rich lakes. The image shows a distance of a little more than from left to right, and the forested spikes are nearly that length. Barnaul is at center right, on the Ob River.]]

thumb|Devil Mountain, [[Altaysky District, Altai Krai|Altaysky District]]

Altai Krai has rolling foothills, grasslands, lakes, rivers, and mountains. The highest point of the krai is the tall Mayak Shangina.

The climate is severe with long cold dry winters and hot, usually dry summers. The region's main waterway is the Ob River, which gives its name to the Ob Plateau. The Biya and Katun Rivers are also important. The biggest lakes are Lake Kulunda, Lake Kuchuk, Bolshoye Topolnoye, Bolshoye Yarovoye and Lake Mikhaylov.

Altai Krai has rich natural resources, including lumber, as well as significant mineral reserves. These include the nonferrous metals lead, manganese, tungsten, molybdenum, bauxite, and gold, as well as iron ore. Forests cover about of the krai's land. Victor Zobnev, Daniil Bessarabov, Oleg Bykov, Valery Yelykomov, Natalya Kuvshinova, Ivan Loor, and Alexander Prokopyev from United Russia; from A Just Russia – Alexander Terentyev; from the Communist Party – Sergey Shargunov. Two representatives of the region work in the Federation Council – Sergey Belousov and Alexander Karlin.

List of chairpersons of the Altai Krai Legislative Assembly

The chairperson of the Altai Krai Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer of that legislature.

Office-holders

{| class="wikitable"

! Name

! Took office

! Left office

|-

|Aleksandr Surikov

| 1994

| 1996

|-

|Aleksandr Nazarchuk

| 1996

| 2008

|-

|Ivan Loor

| 2008

| 2016

|-

|

|2016

|present

|}

Economy

As of 2013 the Krai's largest enterprises were supermarket chain , coke fuel producer Altai-Koks and rolling stock manufacturer Altaivagon. Evalar – a prominent dietary supplement manufacturer – is also located in Altai Krai.

In January 2019, the average wage in Altai Krai was 23,941 RUB, which was an increase of 6.3% over the previous year.

Demographics

Population:

Ethnic groups

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Ethnicities in Altai Krai in 2021

|-

! Ethnicity

!Population !! Percentage

|-

| Russians

|1,863,686|| 95.5%

|-

| Germans

|25,361|| 1.3%

|-

| Ukrainians

|10,614|| 0.5%

|-

| Kazakhs

|5,586|| 0.3%

|-

| Tajiks

|5,230|| 0.3%

|-

| Armenians

|5,100|| 0.3%

|-

| Other

| 36,856|| 1.8%

|-

| Ethnicity not stated

| 211,260|| –

|}

thumb|Cathedral of the Protection of the [[Theotokos in Barnaul, Altai Krai]]

Vital statistics for 2024:

  • Births: 15,351 (7.3 per 1,000)
  • Deaths: 32,249 (15.3 per 1,000)

Total fertility rate (2024):<br />

1.24 children per woman

Life expectancy (2021): <br />

Total — 68.60 years (male— 64.08, female— 73.10)

Settlements

Religion

According to a 2012 survey

See also

  • Altai Mountains
  • Denisova Cave
  • Karasuk languages
  • List of Chairmen of the Altai Krai Legislative Assembly
  • Sayan Mountains

Notes

References

Citations

Sources

  • Official website of Altai Krai
  • Official website of Altai Krai
  • Kommersant.com. Information about Altai Krai ()
  • Library of Congress Russian (PDF)
  • History of Altai Krai
  • Altai: a living spirit ()