Tarbagatay is located in Buryatia. Tarbagatai is a large village, the administrative center of the Tarbagatai region. It is located 65 km southwest of Ulan-Ude, in a mountainous forest-steppe area at an altitude of 550-650 meters, in the valley of the Kuytunka River. The village is surrounded on all sides by low hills. The federal highway P258 "Baikal" passes through the village. The majority of the population are Old Believers.
In 1734, the settlement consisted of 15 yards of arable peasants.
Residents asked the Irkutsk diocese for permission to build a chapel of
the Monks Zosima and Savvaty of the Solovetsky Wonderworkers with the
possibility in the future to attach an altar and create a church. The
building permit for the chapel was issued on September 13, 1734. After
10 years, with the assistance of Commissioner Grigory Firsov, the chapel
was transformed into Zosima-Savvatisva Church. The church was
consecrated on August 5, 1746.
In 1765, Old Believers settled in
the village - Semey, exiled from the lands around the city of Vetka that
had ceded from Poland to Russia.
In 1810, an Old Believer chapel
was built.
At the beginning of 1824, the writer A. I. Martos
noted two churches in the village (Zosima-Savvatievsky and St. Nicholas
the Wonderworker), 110 houses and 700 yasak residents. Prosperous (not
very rich) peasants plowed up 100 acres of land, kept up to 100 head of
cattle, 300-500 sheep, up to 100 horses.
In September 1830, the
Decembrists were transferred from the Chita prison to the Petrovsky
Zavod. In Tarbagatay they had a day of rest (three crossings after
Verkhneudinsk, that is, approximately September 9). In his "Notes" Baron
A.E. Rosen left a small description of the village.
The village
is mentioned by Nikolay Nekrasov in the poem "Grandfather".
“Where is
that village?” - "Far,
Her name is: Tarbagatay, Terrible Wilderness,
beyond Baikal ... So, my dear, you are still at a young age,
Remember
how big you will be ... "
Since 1849, the Tarbagatay Fair has
been held in January.
In the middle of the 19th century, 900
people lived in Tarbagatay.
At the end of the 19th century, the
church of Belokrinitsky consent was built in the village.
In 1911
the village had:
Orthodox churches - 2
Edinoverie churches - 1
Old Believer Prayers - 3
Private residential buildings - 510
Public houses - 3
Public bakery stores - 3
Rural parochial schools
and elementary schools - 1
State-owned wine shops - 1
Forges - 6
Rural prisons - 1
Glaciers - 1
Flour-grinding water mills - 5
Steam mills - 1
In 1919, there were 539 households (of which 465
were Old Believers) and 3,391 residents.
During the civil war, in
December 1919, a punitive detachment was sent to Tarbagatai under the
command of Zhirnov, numbering 300 people. The detachment was defeated by
the red partisans. Zhirnov was shot by the population. On December 25,
1919, the Military Revolutionary Headquarters of the Northern Front was
created, and weapons workshops began to operate. On December 31, the
"Wild Division" under the command of General Levitsky was sent from
Verkhneudinsk to the punitive expedition. On January 1, she occupied the
villages of Kolobki and Kardon. The partisans of Tarbagatai, led by the
commander of the Northern Front, Leshchenko, organized defenses on
Omuleva Hill. The battle on Omulevka lasted five hours. The population
of Tarbagatai came to the aid of the partisans. The attack of the "Wild
Division" was repulsed. After 10 days, General Levitsky, having received
a detachment of Yesaul Izmailov as reinforcements, left Verkhneudinsk
for Tarbagatai. The offensive came from the direction of the Selenga and
the villages of Ganzurino and Bilchir. The cavalry attack was repulsed,
but Ganzurino was surrendered to the Wild Division. Later, Ganzurino was
repulsed, and the "Wild Division" retreated in the direction of Goose
Lake.
In February 1920, the only issue of the newspaper Izvestia
of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of the Baikal region
was published in the village.
In November 1923, a cell of the
RKSM was created in Tarbagatay. On December 31, 1923, a club was opened
in the village in memory of the fallen freedom fighters. On January 8,
1924, the first children's performance was given in a rural school.
In 1925, an agricultural center and an experimental field were
opened. For the first time, an agronomist appeared in the village.
May 30, 1926 opened a hut-reading room. On August 19, 1926, the
construction of a hospital with 20 beds was completed. The hospital
building has become one of the largest buildings in the Verkhneudinsky
district.
In 1927, ShKM (a school for peasant youth) was opened
in Tarbagatay, currently a secondary school. Until that time, a
parochial school operated in the village.
In the summer of 1928,
a telephone line was laid from Verkhneudinsk to Tarbagatay.
In
the summer of 1928, an episode of the film "The Descendant of Genghis
Khan" - "The Death of a Commander" was filmed in the village. In the
role of the wife of the partisan commander, a local resident Daria was
filmed.
In the spring of 1932, the Verkhneudinsk Machine and
Tractor Station (MTS) was established in Tarbagatay with 20 tractors. In
1935, a school of drivers began to work at the Tarbagatay MTS.
On
October 1, 1933, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee decided to
transfer the center of the Verkhneudinsk aimag from the city of
Verkhneudinsk to the village of Tarbagatay with the renaming of the
Verkhneudinsk aimag into the Tarbagatai aimag.
On October 23,
1935, the village was electrified. The power plant with a capacity of
200 light bulbs was built by the Tarbagatay MTS.
In 1985, the
Tarbagatay Children's and Youth Sports School was formed. In 1993, the
Youth Sports School was renamed the Tarbagatai Children's and Youth
Physical Training Center.
Church of the icon "Sovereign"
Church of the Icon of the Mother of
God "Derzhavnaya" - an Orthodox church, belongs to the Ulan-Ude diocese
of the Buryat Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Nikolsky
temple
Nikolsky Church is an Orthodox church, belongs to the Russian
Old Orthodox Church. Built in 2003.
Monuments of history
The
building where the headquarters of the partisans of the Tarbagatai Front
was located in the volost administration. st. Lenina, 16.
The house
of S. I. Chebunin, in which the Bolshevik organization conducted
revolutionary work and had a safe house. st. Lenina, 25.
Monument in
honor of the battle of the partisans of the Tarbagatai Front with the
White Guards on Mount Omulevka on January 2, 1920. 2 km north of the
village.
In the Old Believer estate, you can buy literature about Semey families, souvenirs, and needlework. You should definitely buy Semey moonshine on pine nuts. Nothing beats a quality whisky.
Roadside complex "On the track". Departure from st. Proletarskaya on the Baikal highway, near the Kalina gas station. Cafe, hotel, sauna.
Tarbagatay (Russian: Тарбагатай) refers to several localities in
Russia, but in the context of geographical interest, it most commonly
denotes the rural locality (selo) that serves as the administrative
center of Tarbagataysky District in the Republic of Buryatia, located in
eastern Siberia. This area is renowned for its picturesque Siberian
landscapes, proximity to Lake Baikal, and a blend of taiga and steppe
environments. The district spans approximately 3,304 square kilometers
(1,276 square miles) and is entirely rural, encompassing 23 rural
localities. The following description provides an in-depth overview of
its geography, drawing on its location, topography, hydrography,
climate, vegetation, and geological aspects.
Location and
Overview
Tarbagatay is situated in the central part of the Republic
of Buryatia, approximately 50-60 kilometers south of Ulan-Ude, the
republic's capital. Its geographical coordinates are roughly 51.48°N
latitude and 107.36°E longitude. The area lies in the southern part of
Eastern Siberia, within the broader Transbaikal region (also known as
Zabaikalye), which is characterized by its position in the contact zone
between taiga forests and steppe zones. This location contributes to
high biological diversity and sensitivity to environmental changes.
Buryatia as a whole borders Lake Baikal to the north and west, with
Tarbagatay positioned near the lake's influence but not directly on its
shores—Lake Baikal is about 50 kilometers northwest. The republic
extends into mountainous terrain bordering Mongolia to the south,
placing Tarbagatay in a transitional zone between the Baikal rift system
and intermontane basins.
Topography
The topography of
Tarbagatay and its surrounding district is diverse, featuring a mix of
high mountains, ridges, plateaus, basins, and river valleys typical of
southern Siberia. The landscape includes naked high mountains, some of
which are adapted for arable land, alongside sandy long ravines and
water meadows. Elevations in the district vary, with the broader
republic ranging from Lake Baikal's shoreline at 456 meters above sea
level to peaks over 3,000 meters in nearby ranges like the Khamar-Daban
to the west and the Yablonovo Range to the east. Tarbagatay itself lies
in the broad Selenga River valley, a fertile intermontane basin that
supports agriculture. The area is part of a larger mountainous country
in southern Eastern Siberia, with powerful ridges and deep hollows
creating a rugged yet accessible terrain. This setting makes it a
gateway to nearby natural attractions, such as the Tunkinsky National
Park to the southwest, known for rivers, volcanoes, and hot springs.
Hydrography
Water features play a central role in Tarbagatay's
geography. The primary river is the Selenga, which flows through the
district and is a major navigable waterway emptying into Lake Baikal.
Along its course near Tarbagatay, the Selenga is adorned with numerous
islands overgrown with verdant grasses, osiers (willows), and bird
cherry trees, creating a lush "bird cherry land." The river's green
banks and meandering path add to the scenic beauty, supporting meadows
and riparian ecosystems. While Tarbagatay has no major lakes within its
immediate boundaries, it is proximate to Lake Baikal, the world's
deepest and oldest freshwater lake, which influences local hydrology and
provides a source for over 350 rivers and streams in the region. Smaller
streams and ravines contribute to the district's water meadows, aiding
irrigation for local farming. The rivers in Buryatia, including those
near Tarbagatay, belong to the Baikal, Lena, and Angara basins, with
most being small (under 200 km long).
Climate
Tarbagatay
experiences a sharply continental climate, typical of inland Siberia,
with significant temperature fluctuations and uneven precipitation.
Winters are long and cold, with average January temperatures around
-17°C to -25°C (1°F to -13°F), while summers are warm and short,
averaging +25°C (77°F) in July. Annual precipitation is low, generally
less than 500 mm (20 inches), mostly falling in summer. The region's
location far from oceans, combined with its mountain-hollow terrain,
results in large daily and annual temperature swings—winters can be
windy and severe, while springs are often dry and dusty. Proximity to
Lake Baikal moderates extremes slightly in nearby areas, but
Tarbagatay's valley position exposes it to continental influences,
including occasional monsoonal effects in summer.
Vegetation and
Soils
The vegetation around Tarbagatay reflects a transition between
taiga and steppe biomes. Dense coniferous forests (taiga), including
centuries-old pines, cover much of the higher elevations and ridges,
accounting for about 70-83% of Buryatia's land overall. In the
intermontane basins and river valleys, steppe grasses prevail,
supporting agriculture like wheat, potatoes, and vegetables in the
Selenga valley. The area is rich in flora, with over 1,000 vascular
plant species in the republic, including berries, nuts, and herbs in
forests and meadows. Soils in the taiga zones are generally poor and
podzolic, while the steppe regions feature fertile black earths
(chernozems) ideal for cultivation. Fauna includes typical Siberian
species like squirrels, sables, and birds, with hunting and fur farming
historically important. The high biodiversity stems from the
taiga-steppe interface, making the area ecologically sensitive.
Geological and Paleoenvironmental History
Geologically, Tarbagatay
lies in a region shaped by tectonic activity in the Baikal rift zone,
with sediments recording over a million years of environmental changes.
The Tarbagatay key section in west Transbaikalia reveals two main
sedimentary units linked to the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT,
approximately 1.2–0.75 million years ago). The lower unit (older,
clay-loamy textures) indicates intensive weathering and warmer
conditions with carbonate accumulation, while the upper unit (sandy,
post-MPT) reflects colder climates, frequent landscape reworking, and
cryoturbation (soil disturbance from freeze-thaw cycles). This
transition aligns with broader Northern Hemisphere shifts toward more
dynamic, cooler environments. The area's mineral resources, such as gold
and tungsten in the republic, hint at underlying geological richness,
though not heavily exploited in Tarbagatay itself.
The original name was the settlement of Pargabentey[2]. The locals called the village Tarbatai. Tarbagatai is a toponym that originates from the Mongolian word tarvagatai - "[a place where] there are tarbagans (marmots)".