Irkutsk is the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, one of the most important places in Siberia, being not only the principal commercial depot north of Tashkent, but also a fortified military post, an archbishopric of the Russian Orthodox Church and the seat of several learned societies. Irkutsk population: 593,604 (2002 Census); 500,000 (1975); 49,106 (1900); 32,512 (1875).
History:
Irkutsk grew out of the winter quarters established (1652) by Ivan Pokhabov for the collection of the fur tax from the Buryats. Its existence as a town dates from 1686.
The most significant person in the religious life of Irkutsk is Saint Innocent of Alaska (1797–1879, born Ivan Veniaminov) who was born near Irkutsk, and later entered into the Orthodox priesthood. He did missionary travels
with his family to the Aleutians. He learned local languages and translated the Gospels and the hymns. Later, after his wife died, Veniaminov became a monk, Innocent. He was raised to bishop, and then archbishop of Kamchatka, the Kurile and Aleutians Islands until 1867 when he was appointed Metropolitan of Moscow.
In the early nineteenth century, many Russian artists, officers and nobles were sent into exile to Siberia for their part in the Decembrist revolt against Tsar Nicholas I. Irkutsk became the major center of intellectual and social life for these exiles, and much of the city's cultural heritage comes from them; also, many of their wooden houses, adorned with ornate, hand-carved decorations, survive today in stark contrast with the standard Soviet apartment blocks that surround them.
Irkutsk has long been reputed to be a remarkably fine city — its streets being straight, broad, well paved and well lighted; but in 1879, on July 4 and 6, the palace of the (then) Governor General, the principal administrative and municipal offices and many of the other public buildings were destroyed by fire; and the government archives, the library and museum of the Siberian section of the Russian Geographical Society were utterly ruined.
During the civil war that broke out after the Bolshevik Revolution, Irkutsk became the site of many furious, bloody clashes between the "Whites" and the "Reds". In 1920, Kolchak, the once-feared commander of the largest contingent of anti-Bolshevik forces, was executed there, effectively destroying the anti-Bolshevik resistance.
On July 27, 2004, Irkutsk's synagogue built in 1881 suffered an electrical fire. A cathedral (built of wood in 1693 and rebuilt of stone in 1718), the governor's palace, a school of medicine, a museum, a military hospital, and the crown factories are among the public institutions and buildings. The illustrious natives of Irkutsk include Nikolay Okhlopkov.
Today:
Nowadays the city of Irkutsk is one of greatest economic and cultural centers in the eastern part of the country. Many years ago the modern stately city expanded and grew beyond its former outskirts. The presence of an historic Polish Roman-Catholic church, a Tatar mosque, and a Jewish synagogue show that from the very beginning the city was multicultural and multinational.
Formely cut off from central Russia by the rocky Urals, this distant Siberian city is now connected by living threads with all the world. The 100th anniversary of the East-Siberian steamship-line was celebrated in 1985. There are direct routes connecting the city with the Mongolia, Japan and China, as well as many routes within the country.
Despite the fact that Irkutsk is well over three hundred years old, the average age of today's population is only 31.6 years. It is a city of youth and students. There are 36 institutes and colleges and 9 vocational schools. Every day 166,646 pupils attend school in the city. In 1949 the East-Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Science founded 9 research institutions and a regional Economy Department.
Irkutsk is also a theatrical city. In the evenings bright lights are switched on at the entrances of five theatres. There are 15 cinemas and 34 libraries that house a total of 2.5 million books.
Culture:
Musemus and Theatres:
In Irkutsk museums and libraries cultural heritage of Irkutsk region is carefully preserved. In Irkutsk art museum of Sukachev unique collections of history, art and nature have been gathered. Scientific library of Irkutsk state university and Regional Universal Scientific Library of Molchanov-Sibirskii are considered to be keepers of priceless book treasures.
The theater and musical life of Irkutsk is variable. At present time 5 professional theatres work in Irkutsk: Academic drama theater of Okhlopkov, Musical theater, Youth Theater, Regional Puppet Theater, Folk Drama Theater; several amateur groups. The Regional Philarmony offers concerts of chamber, classical and organ music.
Poets and Writers:
Irkutsk land has raised a lot of talented poets and writers such as I.T.Kalashnikov, N.A.Polevoi, I.Utkin, I.Molchanov-Siberskii, V.Rasputin, A.Vampilov, M.Sergeev and others.
Irkutsk is a center of art culture of Siberia. The Irkutsk organization of Russian Artist Union has celebrated its 65th anniversary. Many artists are known outside the region. These are A.I.Vychugzhanin, B.Lebedinskii, A.Alexeev, L.B.Gimov, V.S.Rogal.
Education:
Irkutsk is the city of the youth and students, getting a Higher Education in Classical, Pedagogical, Technical, Medical, Linguistical Universities, Economical and Agricultural Academies, 9 Institutes. There are about 30 middle special educational establishments, 10 professional-technical schools and lyceums.
About 50 kinds of sport are developed in Irkutsk. These are bandy, hockey, basketball, track and field athletics, free calisthenics, box, skating, skiing. There are champions and the Olympic Games prize-winners, largest international competitions winners.
There are more than 150 periodicals, published in the city; daily on the air – 4 TV studios and 5 radio stations.
Transport :
Important roads and railways like the Trans-Siberian Railway connect Irkutsk to other regions in Russia and Mongolia. Also, the city is served by the Irkutsk International Airport.
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Irkutsk is the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, one of the most important places in Siberia, being not only the principal commercial depot north of Tashkent, but also a fortified military post, an archbishopric of the Russian Orthodox Church and the seat of several learned societies. Irkutsk population: 593,604 (2002 Census); 500,000 (1975); 49,106 (1900); 32,512 (1875).