Text 2 The Altai Territory

The Altai Territory is situated in the south-east of Western Siberia. Its territory is 169.1 thousand square kilometres. The population of the territory is about 2.5 million people. The territory has 12 towns. The capital of the territory is Barnaul.

There are many lakes in the territory. There are mountains and steppes in Altai. There are a lot of forests in the territory. The Altai territory has many health resorts.

Today Altai produces engines, tractors, tractor ploughs, tyres and so on. Altai is a great agricultural producer in Russia. It produces grain, meat, milk, vegetables and potatoes. Farmers grow buckwheat, sugar beet, soy, oats, flax, fruits and berries in the region.

Altai is a great producer of cheese and butter. Farmers breed animals for furs in Altai. The main branches of agriculture are crop production, livestock farming, fodder production, maral breeding and bee keeping. Food processing is very developed in the territory. There are dairy, meat processing, confectionery, baking, sugar and cheese making enterprises in the Altai Territory.

Text 3 Relief, climate and natural resources of Altai Krai

relief type landscape prevail mountainous steppe occupy considerable areas unique stripe pine stretch out vegetation is accompanied diversity moderately continental is considered sunny quantity approximately average below zero steady snow cover is formed abundant melting waterway as a result of the convergence found flat saline bitter among area sq.km. (square kilimetres) natural recourses are represented deposits ore iron common salt gypsum brown coal precious stones jasper porphyry marbles

рельеф тип ландшафт преобладать горный степной занимать значительные области уникальный полоса, лента сосна простираться растительность сопровождаться разнообразие умеренно-континентальный считается солнечный количество приблизительно средний ниже ноля стабильный снежный покров формируется обильное таяние водный путь, судоходное русло в результате слияния расположенный равнинный соленый горький среди площадь квадратные километры природные ресурсы представлены залежи руда железо поваренная соль гипс бурый уголь драгоценные камни яшма порфир мрамор

Relief, climate and natural resources of Altai Krai

Two types of landscapes prevail in Altai: mountainous in the east and steppe in the west. Taiga occupies considerable areas. Unique stripes of pine forests stretch out on hundreds of kilometers. Forest fund of Altai occupies more than one fifth of its territory. Rich vegetation is accompanied with diversity of fauna.

The climate of Altai Krai is moderately continental, with hot summers and cold winters. Altai is considered to be one of the sunniest regions of Western Siberia in the quantity of sunny days. The length of sunny time is approximately 2000-2300 hours a year. Average temperature in January is 17.6°C below zero, and +18°C - in July. Steady snow cover is formed in the beginning of November and its abundant melting starts in late March - early April.

Altai's most important waterway is the Ob River, which is formed as a result of the convergence of the Biya and the Кatun rivers. The greatest rivers are the Biya, the Katun, the Ob, the Alei and the Charysh. Many of the lakes found in the flat part of the territory (mostly in Kulundinskaya Steppe) are saline and bitter. Lake Kolyvanskoye is the largest among 13000 lakes its area is about 728 sq.km.

Altei Krai is rich in diverse natural recourses. Minerals are represented by the deposits of complex ores, iron, common salt, soda, gypsum, brown coal and precious stones. Altai Krai is also famous for its unique deposits of jasper, malachite, porphyry, marbles, granite, building materials, and it has wonderful medical resources.