Almost 2/3 of the region`s territory is located in height of more than 500 metres, the lowlands cover 1% of the area. In the southeast of the region there is the largest and the most beautiful lake in the world - the Baikal.

Population: 2773.7 thousand people live in the region, among them 79.6% live in towns. Density of population makes up 3.5 persons per sq. km.

Economy: About 86% (66.8 mln. hectares) of the territory is covered by forest, pine forests prevail. Stocks of wood comprises more than 8.3 billion cubic metres (11% of all reserves of the RF). Forests are rich in fur-bearing animals: sables, squirrels, mushrats, ermines.

Land resources make up 77.5 mln. hectares. About 2.2% of land stock is occupied by industry. About 5.1 mln. hectares (6.6%) are in exploitation of agricultural enterprises.

Culture: In Irkutsk there are 5 state theatres, circus, symphonic and chamber orchestras, 3 state museums, 4 libraries, studio of news-reel, one municipal theatre, 3 municipal theatres in Cheremkhovo and Bratsk. Specialists in culture and art study in 5 educational establishments: musical, art, theatrical and others. State regional museums: of regional studies, art, architecture-ethnographic "Taltsy" are the largest cultural establishments in Siberia, keeping unique collections and works of great art and historical value.

In Irkutskaya region many well-known travellers, geographers and scientists worked and lived. Such outstanding statesmen as M. Romm, L. Gaidai, V. Rasputin, A. Vampilov have contributed much to Siberian culture.

Administrative division: In Irkutskaya region there are 33 districts, 22 towns, 14 towns of regional submission, 8 towns of district submission, 59 town settlements, 380 villages. Administrative centre is Irkutsk with the population of 594.5 thousand people. It was founded in 1686. Distance to Moscow is 5,042 km.