|
Useful
Link Irkutsk
|
In the early nineteenth century, many Russian
artists, officers and nobles were sent into exile to Siberia for
their part in the Decembrist revolt against Tsar Nicholas I. Irkutsk
became the major center of intellectual and social life for these
exiles, and much of the city's cultural heritage comes from them;
also, many of their wooden houses, adorned with ornate, hand-carved
decorations, survive today in stark contrast with the standard
Soviet apartment blocks that surround them. The wide streets and
ornate, continental architecture led to Irkutsk being called the
"Paris of Siberia", although travelers are unlikely to have a
difficult time distinguishing the two today.
During the civil war that broke out after the Bolshevik Revolution,
Irkutsk became the site of many furious, bloody clashes between the
"Whites" and the "Reds" (aka Bolsheviks), and a number of city
landmarks remain from that era. In 1920, Kolchak, the once-feared
commander of the largest contingent of anti-Bolshevik forces, was
executed there, effectively destroying the anti-Bolshevik
resistance.
Today, Irkutsk is one of the biggest cities in Siberia, with a
growing population of more than 590,000 people. It's home to several
universities and a major branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
thanks to its proximity to Lake Baikal. In July, the average
temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a bit of rain, but by January, the
temperature plunges in typically Siberian fashion to -19°C (-2°F).
Early September finds the local foliage at its finest.
|
|