Republic of Buryatia is a subject of the Russian Federation and is part of the Siberian Federal district. The administrative and cultural center of the Republic is Ulan-Ude. Distance by rail from Ulan-Ude to Moscow – 5519 km, and to the Pacific ocean – 3500 km.
The Republic of Buryatia was founded 1923. Its area is 351,3 thousand sq. km. Buryatia is located in the southern part of East Siberia South and East of lake Baikal. In the South, the Republic of Buryatia, Russia borders Mongolia, in the South-West – with Republic of Tuva, in the North-West – with the Irkutsk oblast, in the East – the Chita oblast. On the territory of the Republic there are 21 municipal regions, 2 urban districts, 273 urban and rural settlements. Resident population on January 1, 2013 amounted to 971,8 thousand people, average population density is 3.0 people per 1 sq. km. Ethnic composition of the Republic, according to the 2010 census, the following: Russian – 66,1 %, Buryats – 30 %, Ukrainians – 0,6 %, other nationalities – 3.3 percent. On the territory of the Republic of Buryatia is inhabited by indigenous peoples: Evenks – 0,3 %, Soyots – 0.4% of the total population.