Barguzin

Barguzin is a geographic name in Siberia, Russia, most commonly associated with Irkutsk Oblast. It denotes several related places, including Barguzinsky District, Barguzin Nature Reserve, and the rural locality of Barguzin.

Barguzinsky District is a raion of Irkutsk Oblast located in the northeast of the oblast. It is named after the Barguzin River and the surrounding Barguzin Range. The district is sparsely populated and its economy is based on forestry, agriculture, and small-scale mining and tourism linked to the Lake Baikal region.

Barguzin Nature Reserve, or Barguzinsky Zapovednik, is a strict nature reserve established in 1916, among the oldest in Russia. It occupies part of the eastern Baikal slopes in Irkutsk Oblast and protects taiga ecosystems, notably Siberian cedar forests, along with diverse fauna and flora. Public access is largely restricted to preserve habitats.

Geographically, the Barguzin area includes the Barguzin River and the Barguzin Range, and lies on the Baikal slopes overlooking Lake Baikal. The region experiences a boreal climate with long winters and short summers, and its landscapes range from forested mountains to river valleys.

Historically, the name Barguzin derives from the local river and mountain system, and the area has been associated with Buryat communities and later Russian administration.