Gorny Altay

The Altai Republic is one of the most unique regions of Russia with a rich natural, recreational, hydroelectric and biosphere potential.

TheAltai Republic is situated in the very centre of Asia in the south-west of Siberia at the junction of the Siberian taiga, the steppes of Kazakhstan, and the semi - deserts of Mongolia. The Altai Republic is a territory of highlands with a picturesque landscape. One can come across deserted steppes, the wild taiga, alpine meadows, glaciers, high mountain passes with valleys. There are thousands of waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and mountain peaks covered with eternal snow. Its total area is about 92 600 square kilometers. It borders on Kemerovo Region, the Republic of Khakassia, the Tuva Republic, Altai Terrtory, China, Kazakhstan.

Our region is mountainous. Bordering on Mongolia in the south, it contains most of the Altai Mountains. Livestock raising and dairy farming are important, and grain is cultivated. Forests cover about 25% of the republic’s territory.

The majority of the population are Russians; the rest are Altaians. Altaians numbering about 45 000 are Turkic-speaking people with Mongolian ancestry. The vast majority of the Republic’s inhabitants live along the main Chuiskiy highway. Between 1922 and 1948 the Republic was called the Oirot Autonomous Region. It was renamed into Gorny Altay in 1948, the name was maintained until the mid-1990s when Gorny Altay was given the republic status March 31, 1992. The head of the government in the Altay Republic is the Head of the Republic, popularly elected every four years. Mikhail Ivanovich Lapshin was the President of the Altai Republic in Russia from 2002 to 2006. He was born in Setovka, Altai Krai. He became President of the Altai Republic in January 2002. He defeated incumbent Semyon Zubakin in the December 2001 elections with 68% of the vote...

The supreme legislative body of the republic is the State Assembly—El Kurultai
, with 41 deputies popularly elected every four years.

The Republic's largest rivers are the Katun and the Biya
, both of which originate in the mountains and flow northwards. The junction of the two rivers eventually forms the Ob River, one of the longest rivers in Siberia
, which flows northward to the Arctic Ocean. The source of the black Biya River is Lake Teletskoye
, the region's largest lake located in an isolated area far south in the mountains. The emerald-colored Katun River has its source at the Gebler glacier, which is situated on the Republic's highest point, Mount Belukha. The Katun River in particular holds a religious significance for native Altaians, as well as for many Russians who live in the area, as Mount Belukha is known in Altai folklore to be the gateway to mystical Shambhala.

Water resources are among the most important natural resources of the Republic. Mineral resources in the region primarily include gold
, silver
, iron ore
, and lithium. The republic has a temperate continental climate with relatively short and hot summers (June-August); and long, cold, and often quite frosty winters (November-March). In general, the climate of the southeastern areas of the republic, such as the (Ulagan and Kosh-Agach Districts), is harsh er than the climate of the less elevated northern areas.

With the Soviet Union's collapse, the Altai Republic's tourism industry has greatly expanded. Although wealthy Russians from neighboring Russian regions are the most common sort of tourist in Altay, foreign interest has also grown in the area, especially due to the area's spiritual significance for the New Age believers and others.

Popular tourist destinations tend to be concentrated in the north, where the roads are more accessible. They are also almost entirely located along the Chuiskiy highway, which is the main road from the north into the mountains (although it is currently only two lanes wide). The north is also significantly warmer than the elevated southern areas, which tend to be chilly even in the summer.

One of the most well-known tourist spots in the Altay is the picturesque Chemal region,

More adventurous travelers may wish to visit the more remote LakeTeletskoye

Lake Teletskoy Lake Teletskoye is the largest lake in the Altay Mountains and the Altai Republic, Russia. It is one of 25 deepest lakes in the world, having a depth of up to 325 meters....
or Mount Belukha in the south.

The territory of the Altai Republic is rich in the monuments of culture and history and possesses a unique heritage of material and spiritual culture of the past, which is revealed in ancient customs and rituals of the indigenous population. Here there are tens of thousands of archeological and ethnographical monuments. For example, the Golden Mountains of Altai is the name of an UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of the Altai and Katun Natural Reserves, Lake Teletskoye, Belukha Mountain, and the Ukok Plateau.

2. Вставьте пропущенные слова:

1. The Altai Republic is one of the most … regions of Russia. 2. Our region is …. 3. … and … are basic kinds of agriculture. 4. The vast majority of the Republic’s … live along the main Chuiskiy …. 5. The Katun River in particular holds a …. 6. …the gateway to … Shambhala 7. … in the region primarily include gold
, silver
, iron ore
, and lithium. 8. The republic has a … … climate. 9. With the Soviet Union's collapse, the Altai Republic's … … has greatly expanded, especially due to the area's … significance for the New Age believers. 10. Popular tourist … tend to be concentrated in the north, where the roads are more …. 11. It is currently only two … wide. 12. The territory of the Altai Republic is …in ancient … and ….

3. Дайте эквиваленты следующим словосочетаниям:

a)rich natural potential, can come across, square kilometers, grain is cultivated, the rest, vast majority, was renamed into, the name was maintained until, popularly elected every four years, flow northwards, the junction eventually forms, the source is Lake Teletskoe, far south in the mountains, most important natural resources, relatively short and hot summers, the Soviet Union's collapse, New Age believers;

b) в самом центре, на юго-западе Сибири, живописный пейзаж, пустынные степи, дикая тайга, горные перевалы, макушки гор, квадратные километры, возделывают зерновые, тюркоговорящий народ, монгольские предки, жить вдоль Чуйского тракта, был присвоен статус республики, глава правительства, высший законодательный орган, крупнейшие реки, брать начало в горах, изумрудная Катунь, высочайшая точка, в особенности имеет религиозное значение, коренные алтайцы, алтайский фольклор, врата, золото, серебро, железная руда, литий, морозные зимы, менее возвышенные, значительно расширилась, наиболее распространённый вид туристов, иностранный интерес, более предприимчивые путешественники, главная дорога, туристические места, обладает уникальным наследием, материальная и духовная культура прошлого, открывается в древних традициях и ритуалах, десятки тысяч, археологические и этнологические памятники.

4. Выразите согласие либо несогласие со следующими утверждениями:

1. TheAltai Republic is situated in the very centre of Europe in the south-east of Siberia.

2. The Altai Republic is one of the most unique regions of Russia.

3. The Altai Republic is a territory of lowlands with a picturesque landscape.

4. 92 600 square kilometers of the territory are covered with forests.

5. TheAltai Republic borders on Kemerovo Region, the Republic of Khakassia, the Tuva Republic, Altai Terrtory, China, Kazakhstan

6. Livestock raising and dairy farming are secondary branches of agriculture

7. The majority of the population are Altaians.

8. The vast majority of the Republic’s inhabitants live near the border with China.

9. Between 1922 and 1948 the Republic was called the Oirot Autonomous Region.

10. The head of the government in the Altay Republic is the Head of the the State Assembly—El Kurultai, popularly elected every five years. Mikhail Ivanovich Lapshin was the President of the Altai Republic in Russia from 2002 to 2006. He was born in Setovka, Altai Krai. He became President of the Altai Republic in January 2002. He defeated incumbent Semyon Zubakin in the December 2001 elections with 68% of the vote...

11.
The supreme legislative body of the republic is the State Assembly—El Kurultai
, with 41 deputies popularly elected every four years.

12. The source of the black Biya River is Gebler glacier.

13. Lake Teletskoye
, the region's largest lake located along the. Chuiskiy highway.

14. The republic has a temperate continental climate with relatively long and hot summers (June-August); and short, cold, and often quite frosty winters (November-March).

15. Popular tourist destinations tend to be concentrated in the south of the Republic.

16. Chuiskiy highway has two lanes wide longwise.

17. The Altai Republic is rich in ancient customs and rituals of the indigenous population.

18. There are many monuments of culture and history on the territory of the Altai Republic.

19. There are many natural objects included into UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name of the Golden Mountains.

5. Найдите в тексте доказательства и подготовьте краткие высказывания:

· Altai Republic is a multinational unit.

· Altai Republic has one of the most unique nature in the world.

· Popular tourist destinations tend to be concentrated in the north of the Republic..

· The territory of the Altai Republic is rich in various kinds of monuments.

6. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. Where is the Altai Republic situated?

2. What natural zones can one come across here?

3. What countries does the Altai Republic border on?

4. What is the total area ofthe Altai Republic?

5. What are main branches of agriculture in the Republic?

6. What is the population of the Altai?

7. Where is the major part of the population concentrated?

8. Who are Altaians?

9. What were the previous names of the Altai Republic?

10. What are Republic's largest rivers?

11. Where does the Ob River originate?

12. What is the source of the black Biya emerald-colored Katun Rivers?

13. What do you know about Shambala?

14. What are most important natural resources in the Republic?

15. How do you call the. climate of Republic? How would you describe it?

16. What are popular tourist destinations? Where have you been?

17. Is the Altai Republic famous for its archeological and ethnographical monuments?

18. Have you traveled about Altai? Which places did you like best of all? Why?

19.Why is Gorny Altai getting more and more popularity among tourists both from Russia and from abroad?

20. Does tourism do any harm to this area or brings any benefits?

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20