Altai

Altai is a geographic region in southern Siberia and Central Asia that includes the Altai Mountains and surrounding plains. The term can refer to the mountains themselves or to a broader cultural and geographic area that spans parts of Russia, Kazakhstan, China, and Mongolia. In Russia, two federal subjects carry the name: the Altai Republic and the Altai Krai.

Geographically, the Altai Mountains form a highland system on the border area of Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia, with elevations reaching up to 4,506 meters at Mount Belukha. The major rivers Katun and Biya drain the region into the Ob basin, and the landscape includes alpine peaks, forested plateaus, and taiga. The Altai is part of the wider Altai–Sayan region, noted for its biodiversity.

The area hosts diverse flora and fauna and contains several protected areas. A notable site is the Golden Mountains of Altai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognizing its natural value and biodiversity across parts of the Altai Republic and neighboring areas.

Ethnically, the region is associated with the indigenous Altai people, a Turkic group living primarily in the Altai Republic. They traditionally speak Altai, a Turkic language, alongside Russian and other local languages.

Economically, the region relies on agriculture, forestry, and mining, while tourism grows around its mountains, lakes such as Teletskoye, and nature reserves. The Altai region also figures in ancient history through sites associated with the Pazyryk culture of the Altai Mountains.