Biysk city, Russia (Biisk)

The city of Altai krai.

Biysk overview

Biysk (also spelled Biisk) is Russian city located in the south-eastern part of Altai krai on the river Biya, not far from the place where it flows into the river Katun. The distance to Barnaul is 163 km, to Novosibirsk - 356 km, to Moscow - 3,700 km, to the boundary with Mongolia - 617 km.

Biysk city has the population about 221,000 (2010) on the territory of 292 sq.km.

The phone code of Biysk is +7 3854; the postal codes - 659300-659391.

Biysk city coat of arms

Biysk city map, Russia

Biysk history

On February 29th, 1709, Peter I signed the decree on construction of a fortress on the river Ob. So called Bikatunsky stockaded town was built between rivers Biya and Katun, the date of its foundation is considered to be July 18th, 1709. The fortress was to defend south-eastern boundaries of Russian Empire as well as trade ways to China and Mongolia.

But in summer 1710 the wooden fortress was destroyed by nomads Dzhungars and in 1718 it was reconstructed in a new place - 20 km up the Biya, on its right bank. The new location didn’t correspond to its old name and in 1732 Bikatunsky stockaded town was renamed into Biysky. It was a part of Biysko-Kuznetskaya line and played an important part in joining the population of Altai region to Russia in 1756.

On February 26th, 1804, Tomskaya gubernia was formed as well as Biysky uyezd of Barnaul district. Since that time Biysk became a city and on March 12th, 1804, its coat-of-arms was adopted. The fortress was abolished in 1846 and Biysk city was transformed from the military to trade and industrial one.

During World War II a number of large industrial plants were evacuated to Biysk. Besides, 23 hospitals were located in Biysk, over 200,000 wounded soldiers were cured there.

Biysk sceneries

Biysk city, Russia street

Author: Tsygankov Konstantin

Biisk city bridge view

Author: Vlad Ef

Biysk city scenery

Author: Tsygankov Konstantin

Biysk features

Biysk is an important transportation juncture of the region. On the river Biya the river port is located which provides cargo delivery to north-west including exit to the Arctic Ocean. There are a lot of highways among them Chuysky way linking Russia with Mongolia.

Since 1915 Biysk is linked with Trans-Siberian railway. It is planned to link Biysk with Gorno-Altaisky railway. There is an airport in the city which accepts 3rd class airplanes (AN-24, Yak-40, helicopters). Company UTAir accomplishes flights Surgut - Biysk.

Some scientific and industrial institutions are located in Biysk, they carry out fundamental investigations in order to create special means for provide defense of the country as well as special chemical products for rockets. In the city there is the Institute of chemical and energetic technologies of Siberian branch of Russian Academy of Science. On November 21st, 2005, the city was granted the status of scientific city (“naukograd” in Russian).

Biysk places of interest

Biysk museum of local study founded in 1920 and named after V.V.Bianki is one of largest and oldest in Altai.

Biysk city is the gates of Gorny (Mountainous) Altai, the extreme point in Russia where all the mountainous tourist routes start (in the city there is the only bridge across Biya River). Over 2 million tourists cross the city every year. It is there where the ways to world famous Teletskoye Lake, Mountain Belukha, resorts Chemal and Belokudrikha, plateau Ukok start.

Some interesting facts about Biysk:

In Biysk there is the only statue to Lenin wearing real Siberian fur cap.

About 300 km to the south of Biysk there is the way of launching spaceships into the orbit from launching site “Baikonur”. When it’s not cloudy one can see rockets-carriers very well. Rocket-carrier “Soyuz” can be seen in 6 minutes after launching, “Proton” - in 9 minutes. They can be watched about a minute and a half. The moment when the second stage is separating is seen very well. In 1960s-1970s these events seen by casual observers caused a number of rumors.