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Abaza is a city in the Republic of Khakassia of Russia. It constitutes an administrative-territorial unit city (of republican significance), forms the municipal formation of the same name, the city of Abaza, with the status of an urban district as the only settlement in its composition.
Museum of Local Lore
Abaza, st. Embankment, 24
2.65 km to city
center
Phone: +7 (39047) 2-43-67
The building, which currently
houses the city museum of local history, is the only architectural
monument of Abaza with a rather long and exciting fate, which dates back
to the end of the 19th century. This house belonged to the estate owned
by Alexei Kipreev, a merchant of the 1st guild. The turbulent years of
the first half of the 20th century changed everything not only in the
life of people, but also in buildings. The house from the merchant's
estate was destined to become a haven for the headquarters of the
people's squad, then to be a club, a library, and even be honored to be
called the administrative building of the village council.
Abaza
forest
388 m to city center
For everyone who, in the process of
collecting bit by bit new knowledge and impressions when visiting
unfamiliar places, is not satisfied with just walking around museums and
cathedrals and looking at monuments, it is recommended to refresh the
soul and mind by visiting the territory of the famous Abaza Forest. What
is this forest known for, which unimaginably adorned the valley in the
middle reaches of the majestic Abakan River with its presence? First of
all, the fact that this cedar-pine forest has varieties of flora, which
can only be found on this piece of a gigantic area called the Russian
Federation. In 1988, according to the decision of the local authorities,
the Abaza Forest received the honorary status of a botanical natural
monument of republican significance.
Church of the Annunciation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Abaza, st. Stantsionnaya, d. 2a
4.26 km
from city center
Phone: +7 (983) 196-12-57
The Church of the
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin in Abaza is located in a wooden
building, converted into a temple from an ordinary house in 1980. Even
looking at the building from the outside, you feel the presence of a
certain comfort in your soul, and when you go inside, you forget for a
while all the anxieties and problems, focusing on the main issue, for
which, in fact, you came to God's temple. Perhaps the concept of "cozy
atmosphere" is more suitable for some kind of cafe, but under the arches
of the Abaza church you notice true comfort and meet complete
understanding in the person of the local ministers. Despite the
relatively short period of its existence, the church of the city of
Abaza enjoys the love and authority of local parishioners.
1. Visa and Entry Requirements (as of 2026)
Most foreign visitors
need a visa to enter Russia.
Visa-free options exist for citizens of
certain countries (e.g., many from the former Soviet Union, some in Asia
and Latin America) for limited stays — check your nationality.
Many
nationalities can use an e-visa (unified electronic visa) for tourism,
business, etc., valid for short stays.
Standard tourist visas require
an invitation letter/voucher (from a hotel or agency), insurance, and
application via the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs site or
consulate.
Important: Russia has specific entry rules, including
possible biometric/QR code requirements for some travelers. Always
verify with official sources like the Russian MFA or your embassy, as
rules can change. U.S. citizens and others face a Level 4 "Do Not
Travel" advisory from the U.S. State Department due to security and
legal risks.
2. Getting to Russia (International Arrival)
There are no direct international flights to Abakan or nearby due to the
remote location. Common routes:
Fly into
Moscow (major hubs: Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), or Vnukovo
(VKO)) from Europe, Asia, the Middle East (e.g., via Istanbul or Dubai),
or other Russian cities.
Alternatives: Fly to
Krasnoyarsk
(KJA) (about 420 km from Abaza) or Novosibirsk, then connect
domestically.
Domestic leg to
Abakan (ABA):
S7 Airlines and others operate direct or connecting
flights from Moscow (4.5–5 hours flight time, multiple weekly).
Other
connections from Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, etc.
3. From Abakan to
Abaza (Main Local Access)
Abakan is the primary gateway. Distance:
~144–192 km (sources vary slightly on exact road/rail distance).
Options:
Train: There is a railway connection. Trains run between
Abakan and Abaza (Abaza has its own train station, ~2 km from the town
center). Duration around 3–4 hours combined with transfers/taxi. Check
RZD.ru (Russian Railways) for schedules.
Bus: Local buses or
marshrutkas (minivans) operate the route.
Taxi/Private Transfer:
Recommended for convenience (~3–4 hours, book via apps like Yandex Go or
local services). Cost varies but feasible.
Car Rental: Possible in
Abakan, but roads are long-distance Siberian; winter driving requires
experience (snow/ice).
Abaza Train Station is very close to the town.
4. Alternative Routes
From Krasnoyarsk (KJA): Fly here, then
bus/train/taxi (~10–11 hours total).
Long-distance train from Moscow:
The Sayany train (or similar) takes ~75 hours to Abakan — scenic but
very long.
Driving: From Moscow ~4,000+ km (2+ days). Not recommended
for most due to distance and conditions.
Nearby airports: Sayanogorsk
(~170 km), but Abakan is best served.
5. Practical Tips for the
Journey
Booking: Use Rome2Rio for overviews, RZD.ru for trains,
Aviasales or airline sites for flights. Yandex Go for local taxis/buses.
Language: Russian is essential outside major hubs; English is limited.
Use Google Translate or a similar app.
Currency: Rubles (RUB). Cards
work in cities, but carry cash for remote areas. ATMs available in
Abakan.
Seasonal Considerations: Siberia has extreme weather — very
cold/snowy winters (Nov–Mar), short summers. Roads/trains can face
delays.
Connectivity: Mobile coverage (Beeline, MTS, Megafon) is
decent but spotty in mountains. Roaming or local SIM/eSIM recommended.
Accommodations: Limited in Abaza — basic hotels/guesthouses. Book ahead.
More options in Abakan.
Health/Safety: Standard travel insurance
(medical evacuation). Remote area — prepare for limited medical
facilities. Follow local laws strictly.
Summary of Fastest Route
(from Moscow)
International flight → Moscow.
Domestic flight
Moscow → Abakan (4.5 hrs).
Train/taxi Abakan → Abaza (3–4 hrs).
Total door-to-door: ~12–18 hours depending on connections.
Location and Coordinates
Coordinates: Approximately 52°38′53″N
90°04′26″E (52.648°N, 90.074°E).
Elevation: Around 450–473 meters
(1,480–1,550 ft) above sea level, with some sources noting ~1,496 ft for
weather data purposes.
It sits in the Tashtypsky District of
Khakassia, near the border with the Tuva Republic, making it one of the
southernmost significant settlements in the republic.
Regional
Context and Topography
Abaza occupies a picturesque intermountain
basin in the foothills of the Western Sayan Mountains (part of the
broader Sayan system, which forms a major mountainous divide in southern
Siberia). It is surrounded by the Kirsa and Joysky mountain ranges.
The town lies along the Abakan River (a tributary of the Yenisei River
system), which flows through the area and provides a key geographical
and historical anchor. The living and administrative areas are built on
a plateau near the river.
To the west and south, dense taiga (boreal
forest) dominates — unusual for much of Khakassia, which features more
steppe landscapes. This taiga includes protected areas of the Khakasian
Nature Reserve. Nearby landmarks include Chalpan Mountain/Rock, a
prominent 147-meter-high stone formation resembling an animal fang,
offering panoramic views of the town, river, and forests.
Key
features:
River valley with floodplains and meadows.
Surrounding
forested mountains and ridges.
Transition zone between mountain taiga
and riverine environments.
Climate
Abaza has a continental
climate (Köppen Dfb or similar), typical of southern Siberia but
moderated slightly by its riverine and mountainous setting. Summers are
comfortable and partly cloudy; winters are frigid, snowy, and overcast.
Temperatures: Cold winters (often below -20°C/-4°F in January) and
mild-to-warm summers (July averages around +16–20°C). Significant
seasonal variation.
Precipitation: Moderate, with more in summer;
snowy winters.
Sunshine: Khakassia as a whole is one of Russia's
sunnier regions, though local topography (mountains and forests) can
influence microclimates.
Topography influence: The basin and
surrounding ranges create some shelter from extreme winds but can trap
cold air in winter.
Natural Environment and Ecology
Vegetation: Extensive cedar-pine taiga (Siberian pine/cedar forests) to
the west, considered highly picturesque and protected in parts. There is
a unique cedar nursery forest near the Sayan Mountains, one of Russia's
only such federal suppliers.
Wildlife: Typical Siberian taiga species
(bears, deer, various birds, etc.), with opportunities for eco-tourism,
fishing, rafting, and speleology in the surrounding untouched forests.
Hydrology: Dominated by the Abakan River and its tributaries; the area
has many smaller streams from the mountains.
Protected areas: Parts
of the Khakasian Nature Reserve and local natural monuments like
Abazinsky Bor (a scenic cedar-pine forest near the river).
The
landscape is highly scenic, blending river, forest, and mountain
elements, contrasting with the steppe-dominated northern and central
parts of Khakassia.
Human Geography and Economy
Abaza
functions as a single-industry town centered on mining (iron ore
deposits nearby, with extraction continuing). Timber industry is also
significant due to the surrounding forests.
The town was founded in
1856 as a settlement tied to iron production and gained town status in
1966. Its position as the "last outpost of civilization" in southern
Khakassia underscores its remote, frontier-like geography.
Etymology
The name of the city comes from the abbreviation (in the form of an acronym) of the phrase Abakan plant (Abakansky Zavod).
A small town is located near the city of Abakan at the upper mouth of
the river of the same name. The name was obtained by merging several
letters of two words Abakan plant - Abaz. The city is located in
Khakassia, Russia.
The location of the city is a mountain-taiga
lowland in the foothills of the Western Sayan Mountains. The
intermountain basin, in which the Abaz is located, is hidden in the
northwestern direction behind the wooded halls of the Kirs ridge, and in
the southeastern direction of the Joysky ridge.
The history of
the small town is beautiful. Long ago, in 1856, an iron ore deposit was
found near the Abakan River. The merchant Kolchugin undertook the
development of this deposit. Production grew, and during the first year
pig iron and iron worth 50,000 rubles were produced. In 1867, a small
settlement was formed near the deposit, where factory workers and their
families live.
Unfortunately, under the leadership of the
merchant, the plant did not become profitable, and due to the ruin, the
merchant sold his offspring to the St. Petersburg capitalist Permikin.
By that time, he had gold mines, a copper smelter and a cutting factory
in his possessions. In 1868, the small settlement was named
Abakano-Zavodskoye.
In connection with minor changes in power in
1889, the plant came under the leadership of the artel, but then it was
bought by another St. Petersburg industrialist, Ratkov-Rozhnov. At that
time, the Abakan plant was considered one of the largest enterprises in
Siberia.
Since 1921, the village began to be called Abaza. The
plant itself worked with long breaks, and from 1926 to 1956 the
enterprise was stopped.
In 1957, work at the plant resumed again,
and all products are sent to the Kuznetsk Iron and Steel Works.
Starting from 1966, the working settlement received the status of a city
of district subordination, and from 2000 - of republican subordination,
and at the same time became part of the Tashtyp district. The municipal
formation of the city took place in 2003.
To this day, the mining
industry is developed in the city of Abaza. The city has a timber
industry and forestry, in addition, there are food processing plants and
a garment factory. The railway is a branch of the South Siberian
Railway. In addition, there is a road connecting with the Republic of
Tyva, 4 S.O.Sh. , hospital and clinic.
The city, like an unusual
opal, is framed by cedar forests, which are natural monuments protected
by special forestry. The sheer cliff Chalpan rises above the city
itself. It seems like an incredible combination of nature and human
structures. The Chalpan rock is part of the Western Sayan rock range.
In the city, due to various troubles and the unstable work of the
plant, there are practically no interesting buildings, except for the
pre-revolutionary house of the merchant Kipreev. The Abaza Museum of
Local Lore was opened in it, which in 2010. was awarded the status of
the best municipal museum of the Republic of Khakassia.
The
surrounding nature is the main attraction of a cozy small town, where
tourists have begun to drop in more and more often. Thanks to the
Internet, where you can review and book a hotel room. The incredible and
stunning beauty of nature opens up to the eyes of eco-tourists. To the
west of the city lies the Sayan taiga. With unique plants and fragrant
medicinal herbs. Incredibly beautiful animals and amazing birds. In
addition, there are two nature reserves Khakass State and "Lykov's
Zaimka". So this reserve is named after the Lykov family of Old
Believers, who deliberately went to the taiga to live away from the
bustle of the world. Zaimka borders on Altai and the Republic of Tuva.
It is one of the most stunning natural reserves.
Thanks to the
unique gift, the purity of the environment in Abaza, you can organize
various expeditions to the taiga, where you can do speleology, as there
are caves in the bowels of the taiga or just fish in the waters of
Abakan. For those who want extreme sports, you can organize rafting on
the river.
Iron ore is mined at a mine 5 km from the city (Abaza mine). There is
a processing plant. Iron ore is sent to Novokuznetsk metallurgical
enterprises. There is also a meat-packing plant, timber industry and
other enterprises.
Since 1995, the Abakan Mining Administration
has been a division of PJSC West Siberian Iron and Steel Works
By
Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of July 29, 2014 No.
1398-r (as amended on May 13, 2016) “On approval of the list of
single-industry townsâ€, it is included in the list of single-industry
cities of the Russian Federation with the most difficult socio-economic
situation.
The authorities plan to stop ore mining and close the
Abaza mine. The population expresses dissatisfaction with this: “If
they flood the mine, they will flood Abaza.â€