Gusinoozyorsk

Gusinoozersk (Russian: Гусиноозёрск; Buryat: Галуута Нуур, Galuuta Nuur; Mongolian: Галуутнуур, Galuutnuur) is a town and the administrative center of Selenginsky District of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia. Population: 24,582 (2010 Census);^[3] 26,502 (2002 Census);^[7] 29,790 (1989 Soviet census);^[8] 13,800 (1970). It was previously known as Shakhty (until 1953).

Gusinoozersk Гусиноозёрск
Town[1]
Other transcription(s)
• Buryat	Галуута Нуур
View of Gusinoozersk
Location of Gusinoozersk
Gusinoozersk Location of Gusinoozersk Show map of Russia Gusinoozersk Gusinoozersk (Republic of Buryatia) Show map of Republic of Buryatia
Coordinates: 51°17′N 106°31′E
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Buryatia[1]
Administrative district	Selenginsky District[1]
Town	Gusinoozersk[1]
Founded	1939[2]
Town status since	1953
Elevation	580 m (1,900 ft)
Population  (2010 Census)[3]
• Total	24,582
Administrative status
• Capital of	Selenginsky District,[1] Town of Gusinoozersk[1]
Municipal status
• Municipal district	Selenginsky Municipal District[4]
• Urban settlement	Gusinoozersk Urban Settlement[4]
• Capital of	Selenginsky Municipal District,[4] Gusinoozersk Urban Settlement[4]
Time zone	UTC+8 (MSK+5 [5])
Postal code(s)[6]	671160
Dialing code(s)	+7 30145
OKTMO ID	81648101001
Website	admingus.ru

Geography

The town is located in the area of the Selenga Highlands, on the northeastern shore of Lake Gusinoye, 110 kilometers (68 mi) southwest of Ulan-Ude.

History

It was founded in 1939 under the name Shakhty (Ша́хты),^[2] in connection with the commencement of exploitation of brown coal deposits in the area. In 1953, it was granted town status and given its present name,^{[citation needed]} derived from Gusinoye Ozero (lit. "goose lake"), the Russian name for the lake on which the town stands.

Lake Gusinoye south of the town

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Gusinoozersk serves as the administrative center of Selenginsky District.^[1] As an administrative division, it is, together with two rural localities, incorporated within Selenginsky District as the Town of Gusinoozersk.^[1] As a municipal division, the Town of Gusinoozyorsk is incorporated within Selenginsky Municipal District as Gusinoozersk Urban Settlement.^[4]

Economy

The main focus of the town's economy remains brown coal production and the associated power station, although mining activities on the nearby deposits slowed during the economic crisis of the 1990s.

Transportation

Zagustay railway station on the Trans-Mongolian Railway is located 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) north-west of the town.

Military

The 245th Motor Rifle Division of the Russian Ground Forces was located in the town until it was reduced to a Base for Storage of Weapons and Equipment in 2006.