Autonomous republic of S Russian Federation, in Altai territory
area 92,600 sq km/35,740 sq mi
capital Gorno-Altaisk
physical in the foothills of the Altai Mountains, bordered in the S by Mongolia and China; forested mountains and high plateaus
industries gold, mercury, and coal mining, timber, chemicals, dairying, cattle breeding

history colonized by the Russians from the 18th century. Established 1922 as Oirot Autonomous region for the Mongol Oirot people; renamed 1948. An autonomous republic from 1991, renamed 1992.
Territory of the Russian Federation, in SW Siberia; area 261,700 sq km/101,043 sq mi; capital Barnaul; est) 2,851,000. Industries include mining, light engineering, chemicals, and timber. Altai was colonized by the Russians from the 18th century.
The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb 1949 at a test site in Siberia 170 km from the region. The 2.3 million inhabitants were unaware of the test and within two hours were engulfed by the radiation cloud. Research in 1995 (no longer restricted by official secrecy) estimated that 27 of the 58 districts were extensively contaminated with fallout, and approximately 11,000 extra cancers resulted.