Altai Territory
The Altai Territory lies in the southeast of Western Siberia, forming part of the Siberian Federal District. The territory occupies 168,000 square kilometres and has a population of 2,417,000, as of 2011. The proportion of the urban population is 54.7%, according to the 2010 census. The territory includes 12 urban areas, and 60 rural districts. The administrative centre is Barnaul.
The Altai Territory lies at the intersection of transcontinental transit cargo and passenger traffic. The territory is crossed by motorways that link Russia with Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and a railroad that joins Central Asia with the Trans-Siberian Railway (Turksib).
Bituminous and ligneous coal, iron ore, manganese, chromium, titanium, vanadium, tungsten, bauxite, nickel, cobalt, base metals, precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum, fluorspar, cement raw materials and gypsum are extracted in the territory. The region is known for its unique deposits of jasper, porphyry, marble, granite, mineral and drinking underground water, and mineral therapeutic muds. The territory's salty lakes contain substantial accumulations of mineral raw materials for the food and chemical industries, such as sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, natural soda, magnesium and bromine.
More than 58% of the gross regional product comes from the processing industries, agriculture and trade.
Leading industrial sectors in the territory include food production, engineering output (carriages, boilers, engines, agricultural machinery and electrical equipment), coke, rubber and plastic objects, and chemical production.
The Altai Territory is one of the biggest food producers in Russia. It is the only area between the Urals and the Far East where sugar beet is grown. In 2011, the volume of crops was the highest in 15 years, totaling 570,800 tonnes.
In 2011, territorial budget revenues exceeded the targets by 52%, or 11.740 billion roubles. The projected revenues for 2012 are 52.8 billion roubles (6% higher than the projected revenues for 2011).
Unemployment in the territory is showing a steady decline. As of October 1, 2011 the registered unemployment rate totaled 28,660 people, down 25% from the previous year.
The region's vast recreational potential, combined with the favourable climate of southern Western Siberia and rich historical and cultural heritage, provide extensive opportunities for the development of different kinds of tourism, sports and leisure in the Altai Territory.
