Irkutsk! Sunday 2nd of January 2011!

Irkutsk hazily loomed in the distance a thick fog disappearing between the snow-covered landscape. As the snowy city approached, Aleksandra kindly described Irkutsk as we slowly pulled into the beautiful Irkutsk train-station. 

Here are some notes on Irkutsk:
Population: 

The population of Irkutsk is of about 600 600 inhabitants.
Climate:     

Irkutsk has a borderline subarctic climate,characterized by extreme variation of temperatures between seasons. The Lake Baikal, However, Lake Baikal takes its effect, such that temperatures in Irkutsk are not as extreme as elsewhere in Siberia. The warmest month of the year in Irkutsk is July, temperature ranging from 18 °C to almost 40°C. The coldest month of the year is January, when the average temperature is −20°C. Precipitation also varies widely throughout the year. The wettest month is July and the driest month is February.

The Drama Theatre of Irkutsk

The central street Irkutsk

Lenin Street

Irkutsk
Climate chart
J F M A M J J A S O N D 12 −15 −25 9 −11 −23 13 −2 −16 19 8 −5 33 16 2 62 23 8 120 25 11 86 22 9 50 15 3 30 7 −4 18 −4 −15 19 −13 −23 average max. and min. temperatures in °C precipitation totals in mm

Culture:
Sciences: Since Irkutsk plays part in the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences there are various research institutes in the city.
Literature: The well-known Russian writer, Valentin Rasputin comes from Irkutsk and many of his novels and stories take place in the Angara Valley.
Irkutsk is also home to many academies, institutes and museums, for example the 'Taltsy Museum' which is an open-air museum of Siberian traditional architecture.


Economy: The most famous large-scale industry in Irkutsk is the Irkut company, referring to the Irkutsk Aviation Industrial Association, a large manufacture of aircrafts for the army and commercial intentions.


Here is a video on Irkutsk (though you will have to click the link to watch it on Youtube):

Here are a few more photos of Irkutsk:

                                                                      Irkutsk at night

The Arts Museum