Buryatia
Buryatia is situated in the East Siberia. In the west it borders on the Irkutsk region, in the South on the Republic of Tuwa, in the East on the Chita Region, in the north on the Sakha-Yakutia. Buryatia occupies area of 351 300 square kilometers, its population is more than 1 056 000 people.
The relief of the Republic is varied. There are wide stretches of steppe, hard-to-reach highland tundra, flowering Alpine meadows. It is abundant in picturesque lakes, rapid mountains, mineral waters, beautiful rocks, caves and unique landscapes.
There are many mountain ranges: the Khamar-Daban, the Barguzin, the Sayans with the highest peak Munku-Sardyk (3 491 meters high). The mountains are rich in minerals: tungsten, gold, iron, bauxite, limestone.
The rivers of Buryatia are of no great value as waterways. The longest rivers are: the Uda, the Selenga, the Barguzin, the Angara and of course, world-famous Lake Baikal.All the rivers flow into Baikal, except the Angara. Only The Selenga is a navigable river. Almost all the rivers are frozen in winter.
The taiga occupies 60% of the whole territory. It is a nice coniferous forest, where pine, Siberian cedar and other fir-trees grow. The taiga is rich in fur-bearing animals: bear, goat, polar fox, sable, wolf. The Barguzin sable is the pride of the Zabaikalskaya taiga.
The green world of Buryatia is very rich: bird-sherry-tree, Siberian apple; many valuable medicinal herbs: the Ural Liquor ices, peony, greater celandine and a number of others.
In Buryatia there are 2 reservations, 30 preserves. There are quite a number of animal species in Buryatia which are under threat of extinction. The majority of them are registered in the Red Book of the Buryat Republic: mammals-28, birds-72, reptiles and amphibias-7, fishes-5, insects-26. Of them, the Dauria hedgehog, sea-eagle, crane, bustard and others are registered in the Red book of Russia.
The 250 000 Buryats comprise 25 % of the republic s population; about 72 % are Russians and 5 % Ukraine s, Tatars and other nationalities.
Buryatia is the republic of highly developed industry and mechanized agriculture. There are many industrial enterprises such as aircraft, ship-building, food, coal-mining and others.
The republic is famous for sheep-breeding, cattle-breeding ,growing. Dairy, meat-products are very popular in the republic. The republic is known as agricultural region: wheat, barley, potatoes, cucumbers are cultivated in the Bichura, Mukhorshibir, Dzhida, Kabansk regions.
The Republic has a Science Research Centre, which was organized in 1957. Here are intensive researches held.
Above all Buryatia is famous for a glorious inland sea. It is Baikal. It is 20 Million years old. Its depth is 1 634 meters , it contains 20 % of world fresh water supply. In fact, it is legendary.
The center of Buddhism in Russia is situated in Ivolginsk Datsan. It is 20 kilometers from Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia.
Task I: Answer the questions
Why is called Buryatia a second Switzerland?
What are the longest rivers of Buryatia?
How much is the population of Buryatia?
Is Buryatia rich in minerals?
Is a green world of Buryatia valuable?
What do you know about animals, which are under threat of extinction?
Task II: Give Russian Equivalents
Рельеф Бурятии разнообразен. Это живописные озера, горные быстрые реки, минеральные источники, красивые скалы, водопады, пещеры, уникальные природные ландшафты.
Только река Селенга- судоходная река.
Баргузинский соболь- краса Забайкальской тайги.
В Бурятии - 2 заповедника и 30 заказников.
В Бурятии много редких и находящихся под угрозой исчезновения видов животных.
Task III: Discuss the answers to these questions.
Is the geographical position of Buryatia good?
Is Buryatia rich in natural and mineral resources?
What is Buryatia famous for?
TASKS.
I.Give Russian Equivalents.
The Republic of Buryatia –
A Siberian land-
Twice the area of Europe-
To be fabulously rich in mineral recourses-
A great territory-
Square kilometers-
The northern borderline-
To stretch along the shore of Lake Baikal-
Mostly mountainous-
A variety of scenery-
Boundless steppes-
Thick forest-
Rapid mountain rivers-
Crystal clear ice water-
World famous Lake Baikal-
To be rich in minerals-
Tungsten-
Limestone-
Aspen-
Bird cherry-
Mink-
Elk-
Goat-
Sea level-
To be of no great value as waterways-
Except-
Navigable-
The frost-
Mountain ranges-
Fur-bearing animals-
Al the rivers-
The best season in the year-
Complete sentences.
1. The region is known for its a)the Uda, the Selenga, the
Barguzin
2. The taiga is a b)extreme continental climate
3. The biggest of them are c)crystal clear water
4. Baikal has d) nice coniferous forest
5. The rivers of Buryatia are e) such a variety of scenery
6. In Buryatia can be found f)of no great value as waterways
End sentences.
Buryatia is situated in……
Buryatia is rich in natural….
Buryatia borders on….
Munku-Sardyk is ….meters high.
World famous…is in Buryatia.
The whole set of elements in….table is to be found here.
The longest rivers are…
The taiga is rich in….
There are a great number of trees such as…
Only the Selenga is….
All rivers of Buryatia are …. in winter
Answer the questions.
Is Geographical Position of Buryatia good?
What can you say about natural riches of Buryatia?
Высказывания по тексту.
You live in Buryatia. What do you know about it? Tell, please. Where are you from? Do you like your small nature place?
Plan (to the text)
Geographical Position
The natural riches of Buryatia
Industry and agriculture
Culture of Buryatia
What is Buryatia famous for?
Клеше (п.1-2)
Buryatia is situated in the…
It’s area is…
It borders on…
The main rivers are…
The world famous lake is…
It rich in mineral resources such as…
The fur-bearing animals are…
The typical trees are..
(п.3)
Per cent(%)
Population
The main nationalities are…
To be famous for…
Sheep-breeding
Horse-breeding
Cattle-farm
Wheat
Barley
To be cultivated
Highly developed industry
Branches of industry
1 678
37 404 
