1. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RESEARCH SUPPORT (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00825R000100770001-1
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• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
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• Publication Date: May 5, 1966
• Content Type: REQ

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SECRET
Intelligence Report
cIA/BI GR. 67-5
,September 1966
PEOPLE AND ACTIVITIES IN THE ULAN-UDE AREA
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
SECRET
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WARNING
This material contains information affecting
the National Defense of the United States
within the meaning of the espionage laws,
Title 18, USC, Secs. 793 and 794, the trans-
mission or revelation of which in any manner
to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
1 CROUP 1
Excluded tram automatic
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PEOPLE AND ACTIVITIES IN THE ULAN-UDE AREA*
I. General Size and Distribution of Population
The Dian-Ude:Area (see Map 54585)** is inhabited by approximately
275,000 Russians and auryate, most of whom live in the city of Ulan-Ude
(209,000 iii 1965). Other, much smaller, urban concentrations' include
Gusinoozersk (11)600 in 1959) and Gusinoye Ozero (5,400 in 1959), mining
towns at the northern and southern ends of,Ozero (Lake) Gusinoye; and
Kamensk (8,900 in 1959), located on the Trans-Siberian Railroad about
15 miles east of the large lake, Baykal, Most of the rural population
lives in settlements of varying size concentrated in the valleys of the
Selenga:and Lids Rivers and.scattered.over the broad natural grasslands
that lie adjacent to these valleys and their tributaries.
II. Ethnic Groups
Slays and Buryat-Mongols are the two principal ethnic groups in the
Ulan-Ude Area (Figure 1). The Slays are by far the most numerous. The
Buryat-Flongols are an indigenous minority people who constitute only
10 percent of the total population. Small numbers of Tartars and Jews
are also found in the Area.
A. Slays
Approximately 230,000 Russians, who are the predominant Slavic
type, live in the Ulan-Ude Area. In addition, there are about 10,000
other Slays, mostly Ukrainians but including some Poles and Belorussians.
Although most of the Slays live in the cities, where they constitute
85 to 90 percent of the population, they are also the largest ethnic
group in the rural areas.
In physical appearance, the Slays generally resemble most North or
East Europeans. Characteristically, they are of medium height and have
round heads, but individuals may vary widely from the norm. Complexions
range from fair to medium. Hair may be blond or brown, and eyes are
generally blue or grey.
,* Thib report has been produced solely by CIA. It was prepared by the
Office of Basic Intelligence.
** In thisreport the term "Area" refers to the 6,000-square-mile area
covered lpsr.mAID 54585.
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Almost all Slays in the Area speak Russian, and this language is also
widely understood among the other peoples. The Buryat language is not
generally known or used by Slays except the few concerned with organi-
zational and propaganda work among the indigenes.
The Russian Orthodox Church has been the traditional religious affil-
iation among the Slays. Some religious practices such as baptism are
still quietly followed, and religious symbols probably are found within
rural homes. Public religious ceremonies formerly practiced by the
Russian Orthodox faithful, however, such as processions into the country-
side to bless the fields, animals, and harvests, have been curtailed.
Religious adherence is taboo for Communist Party members, and an indi-
vidual's economic advancement can be hindered by an open or enthusiastic
profession of faith. In order to discourage the practice of religion,
the Soviet regime schedules government and Communist Party activities on
Sundays and other religious days. Normally, the Russian Orthodox Church
can be recognized by the familiar onion dome topped by the Russian Orthodox
Cross (1'), but most churches in the Area probably have been destroyed
or stripped of their religious decoration and converted to other public
uses.
Russians in the Ulan-Ude Area wear ready-made clothing of Western
style. Women in rural areas generally wear dark skirts, bright-colored
blouses, head kerchiefs, and heavy shoes or boots. Male manual workers
usually wear dark trousers tieless shirts, and heavy practical shoes.
Professional, supervisory, and clerical personnel customarily wear business
1 suits. Winter wear includes heavy woolen coats Or quilted jackets and
1 fur-lined hats. Some of the latest styles from Moscow and Western Europe
probably can be seen in Ulan-Ude.
1
B. Buryat -Mongols
An estimated 30,000 Buryats live in the Ulan-Ude Area. Approxi-
mately 20,000 are urban dwellers, with the heaviest concentration in the
1 city of Ulan-Ude. The rest are scattered among the rural villages and
!small mining towns. Those In urban settlements are employed primarily
ias clerks or laborers in various industries and in the mines at Gusinoye
10zero and :GusinooZersk. The rural Buryats, formerly nomadic herders for
lthe most part, are now organized in collectives for livestock raising,
Ifarming, hunting, fishing, trapping, and fur farming.
The Buryats are Mongoloid in their physical features. Generally,
Lthey are characterized by medium height, stocky build, and narrow shoulders;
!many Buryats have bowed legs. Skin color ranges from yellow to brownish,
land hair is usually straight, black, and coarse; facial hair is sparse.
IThe Buryat typically has a broad face, high cheekbones, .flat nose, and
leyes that are dark brown, relatively narrow, and slanted (Figures 1 and 2).
1
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CONTENTS
I.
II.
General Size and Distribution of Population
Ethnic Groups
Page
1
1
A. Slays
1
B. Buryat-Mongols
2
C. Other Ethnic Groups
4
III.
Social Structure and Customs
4
A. Organization of Society
4
B. Education
5
C. Cultural Outlets
5
D. Holidays
6
E. Attitudes
6
IV.
Economy
7
A. General Economic Conditions
7
B. Distribution of Economic Activity and Settlement
?
?
?
1. Urban Areas 8
2. Agricultural Areas 9
3. Forested Uplands 10
C. Transportation 11
Photographs
(Following Page 12)
Figure 1. A group of youngsters in Ulan-Ude
Figure 2. A young Buryat of the white-collnr class
Figure 3. A Buddhist datsan in the Buryat ASSR
Figure 4. Buryat women weighing calves
Figure 5. Children of Slavic appearance
Figure 6. Street scene in the center of Ulan-Ude
Figure 7. Lenin Street in Gusinoozersk
Figure 8. An open-pit coal mine at Gusinoozersk
Figure 9. A Buryat yurta
Figure 10. Stacking hay in the fields of a collective farm
Figure 11. A herd of Buryat horses
Figure 12. A flock of sheep grazing on natural grasslands
Figure 13. Hogs on collective farm near Ulan-Ude
Figure 14. A state fur-delivery station
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Photographs (Continued)
Figure 15. Bus on a highway near Ulan-Ude
Figure 16. Dairy cattle being driven along a main highway
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Ulan-Ude: Ebonomic Activities (54585)
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Intermarriage between the Slays and Buryats has created a small hybrid
group known as karymy, the physical features of which reflect both Slav
and Mongol characteristics.
The Buryat language belongs to the Mongolian language group and is
used by most Buryats in their daily affairs. Selenginsk is the most
common Buryat dialect in the Area. Many Buryats also understand Russian,
as instruction in it has been obligatory in all Soviet schools since 1938.
Buddhism is the traditional religion of the Buryats. The Buddhism
practiced by the Buryats is Lamaist, based on teachings of the "Yellow
Hat" sect. The headquarters of the Central Buddhist Religious Board are
at Ivolginsk (51045'N 107?15'E), approximately 15 miles west of Ulan-Ude.
Buddhist datsans formerly consisted of entire settlements with temples,
farm buildings, and dwellings for the lamas, but undoubtedly they have
been collectivized, with the lamas retaining only their temples and
monasteries (Figure 3).
Shamanism, the primitive religion of the Ural-Altaic peoples in which
the unseen world of gods, demons, and ancestral spirits is conceived to
be responsive only to the Shaman conjurers, was once widely practiced by
the indigenous Buryats. Now it is practically extinct, but vestiges still
may be evident among the older Buryats living in isolated communities.
Little is known about the superstitions prevalent among the Buryats
today. The older people may consciously or unconsciously demonstrate
some superstitions carried down from their shamanistic ancestors. These
probably include respect for the shaman grove, a group of trees believed
to be inhabited by ancient gods and spirits. The Buryat considers trees
sacred and does not cut them, break off their branches or twigs, or mow
the grass under their branches. An individual seen throwing bits of food
or tobacco, or sprinkling some beverage near a grove of trees most likely
is "treating" the gods in the grove. Further evidence of shamanistic
beliefs is presented by poles at the edges of fields, to each of which is
attached a box containing ognons (gods), small figures sewn or drawn on
silk that protect the fields. Indiscriminate dumping or accumulation of
garbage is not permitted in places believed to be sacred.
Many Buryat habits have been changed or eliminated through long asso-
ciation with the Russians. The use of soap and water, for example, has
become fairly prevalent, although the Buryats used to be renowned for
their dirty and unhealthful practices. They believed it sinful to bathe,
and some reportedly went unbathed from birth to death. Utensils were
simply licked clean. The Russian funeral practicp of placing the body in
a casket and interring it is now reported to be generally accepted by the
Buryats. Formerly the Buryats cremated their dead. Those who died during
the winter were placed in a log hut in the forest until early May, when
the hut was burned.
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At birth the Buryat woman is attended by a midwife. Traditionally,
;the Buryat buries the tomta (placenta), after due ceremony, under the
;flooring near the mother's bed. When questioned as to birthplace, the
iBuryat replies that his tomta is buried in a particular house, or in
ihouse so-and-so in a particular village.
The traditional Buryat costume has been largely supplanted by Russian-
style clothing, particularly in urban areas (Figure 2). In rural areas,
.however, some older Buryats wear the traditional long cloth coats with
,Mandarin collars and long full sleeves. Men still wear conical-shaped
hats trimmed in fur. Livestock herders often wear long sheepskin coats.
Economic necessity may cause young Buryats to wear hand-me-downs of Buryat
cut, but youths favor Western-style clothing and ready-made clothing cut
on Russian lines. These newer styles are generally available in cities
and rural villages. Buryats tend to favor blue.
C. Other Ethnic Groups
The only significant minorities are the Tartars and Jews. Together
they probably total fewer than 8,000 -- approximately 5,000 Tartars and
2,500 Jews. The Tartars in the Area are Muslims who speak a Turkic lan-
guage. They are generally brunets of medium height, have black eyes,
straight noses; and high cheekbones, and do not have the Mongolian eyefold.
The Jews generally live in the cities and use the Russian language. They
are mostly of the Eastern Mediterranean physical type -- brunet, with
straight or convex noses, heavy growth of beard, and abundant body hair.
The orthodox Jewish religion may have adherents among the Jews, but their
number, organization, and established places of worship are unknown.
III.. Social Structure and Customs
A. -Organization of Society
Rural society is integrated through the productive unit -- the
ifarm, be it state or collective. A farm may encompass one or more vil-
lages and many households, each of which is likely to include individuals
.of more than one generation. Both men and women (Figure 4) of working
;age are commonly employed in the operation of the farm. Wages, based on
amount of time worked, are paid in money on the state farm and in money
or products on the collective farm. Household chores such as tilling
private plots may be left to the older and younger members of the house-
hold. Infants may be cared for in the household or in communal nurseries.
:The employment of women outside the household would not necessarily in-
dicate abnormal activity in the area, although the complete absence of
Iworking-age men from a village probably would. Some men may have been
'attracted to jobs in Ulan-Ude or in the mines around Ozero Gusinoye.
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Both Russians and Buryats are found throughout the Area, but in the
smaller settlements people are likely to be of a single nationality and
in some of the larger villages ethnic groups tend to cluster in different
parts of town. Facts about the social relations among ethnic groups in
the Area are hard to find. Soviet propaganda photographs depict the
happy mixing of youngsters of different nationalities in schools and the
employment of various native peoples in responsible positions on the farm
and in the factory. There certainly appear to be historical bases for
animosity on the part of the Buryats toward the Russians. Russian settle-
ment in the 18th century displaced than from many of their traditional
pasturelands; the Soviet era deprived them of their traditional way of
life and discouraged their religion; and the Russians dealt severely with
many Buryats because of their participation in' the Pan-Mongol Movement
before World War II.
B. .Education
Universal primary education is compulsory, and probably very few
among the younger generation are illiterate. Elementary schools and
kindergartens are available in many of the large rural villages, as well
as in the cities, but rural schools are probably inferior to those in
urban areas. Both urban and rural schools have elementary curriculums
of 7 or 8 years.
Secondary schools, technical high schools, specialty schools, and
opportunities for adult education are available, and social and govern-
ment pressures for the citizen to take advantage of them are strong. Some
rural students desiring a secondary education must travel to schools in
Ulan-Ude pr one of the other cities (Figure 5). Within Ulan-Ude are
several small colleges specializing in agricultural and pedagogical cur-
riculums, but for university work students must travel to Moscow, Irkutsk,
or another city outside the Ulan-Ude Area.
C. Cultural Outlets
Ulan-Ude is the cultural center of the Buryat ASSR. Visiting
and local Russian and Buryat drama groups present both original and
classical plays at the Buryat State Theater. These groups also travel
through the rural areas and perform at collective farms. Russian and
Buryat folk dance ensembles still give their individual national dances.
Slavic and Buryat painters and sculptors slavish],Y follow the Soviet
line, dramatizing the merits of the "new socialistic life," the heroic
feats of Buryats in the past, and the colorful scenery of their land.
The traditional Buryat sports such as archery, horseracing, and wrestling
are still main events at celebrations. Buryat handicrafts include bone
and wood carving and metal and leather embossing, but these arts are less
widespread than in the past.
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, A wide Variety of books and pamphlets in Russian is available in local
libraries and bookstores. Fewer books have been published in Buryat, but
Many works :formerly available only in Russian have now been translated
into Buryat. The Buryat written language is based on the Khorin dialect
4nd came Into being in the 1.930's. A Buryat newspaper established by the
Soviet Government has helped to spread the language and to provide a
4ehicle for: propagandizing Communism among the Buryats. Folk tales,
which formerly were passed orally from one Buryat generation to the next,
are now being recorded in Buryat. Foreign literature is probably uncommon
in this part of the Soviet Union. Some knowledge of English is Probably
Possessed by a few who have Studied foreign languages at secondary schools.
D. Holidays
The holidays celebrated in the Ulan-Ude Area are the same as in
Other parts of the Soviet Union. National holidays include May Day or
nternational Labor Day (1 and 2 May), the anniversary of tne October
Revolution (7 and 8 November), Constitution Day (5 December), and New
Year's Day.. Religious holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Saint John's
Eve, and All Souls Day may be privately celebrated by some Slays but are
not recognized by the State and are not occasions for official time off
from work. 'These religious holidays are celebrated 13 days later in the
USSR than in Western countries because the dates are set according to
the Julian rather than the Gregorian calendar.
E. Attitudes
Specific information about the attitudes of the people in this
Area toward the United States, the current regime and Communism is not
aVailable. The attitudes of Soviet officials toward foreigners are
generally dictated by the political climate of the time, rather than by
ptrsonal experience, as the Buryat ASSR had been officially closed to
t avel by foreigners for many years before it was opened in July 1966.
It seems likely that the constant deluge of anti-imperialistic propaganda
aimed at the United States and the lack of outside contacts have con-
ditioned the people to regard the United States as hostile toward the
USSR. The general attitude of people toward the Soviet regime probably
has been improved by Soviet achievements in science and education during
the last decade. The attitude of an individual toward the system, however,
depends largely on his position in society. The Russian peasant may
resent somewhat his obligation to the collective, and the older Buryat
may look back with nostalgia to the nomadic way of life, but in general
both acquiesce to the basic features of the Soviet system. The engineer
ori factory executive -- Russian or Buryat -- may be quite satisfied with
his position, its prerogatives, and the economic reward it affords. youth,
unfamiliar with any alternative system, tends to accept many tenets of the
Sciviet system, whereas the older generation tends to look back to the
"good old days."
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IV. Ebonomy.
A. General Economic Conditions
The level of economic activity in the Ulan-Ude Area is generally
high. Between 1959 and 1966 the population of Ulan-Ude increased by
almost 40,000, and the population of other cities as well as rural areas
also increased substantially. There is much construction activity in
both urban and rural areas. In Ulan-Ude, multistory apartment buildings
are being constructed to accommodate the increased population. In the
agricultural areas, some settlements have been abandoned and larger vil-
lages of modern style have been built, also to accommodate the growing
population as well as to provide various amenities and services more
efficiently and with more effective control.
The overall level of living in the Ulan-Ude Area is fair by Soviet
standards. Living quarters in Ulan-Ude, however, are probably over-
crowded because of the sharp population growth, and the buildings tend
to be poorly lighted, and ventilated. In general, prices are similar to
those iiv,Moscow, but shortages are more frequent.
? A livestock and grain-growing area, the Ulan-Ude Area is self-suffi-
cient in meat and dairy products and nearly self-sufficient in grains.
Adequate supplies of fish are obtained from Ozero Baykal, Ozero Gusinoye,
and the rivers. Fruits and vegetables are produced locally in sufficient
quantity during the growing season but are frequently unavailable and
must be imported during the off season. Large milling, baking, meat
processing, and canning plants are located in Ulan-Ude.' Animals are
slaughtered and grain is milled also on some of the large collectives.
In urban areas fruit, vegetablesidairY Products, and baked goods are
sold in the markets. At the open market in Ulan-Ude farmers -- spmetimes
it -rural and: native dress also sell privately owned livestock and
vegetables from their household plots.
The diet of the urban population includes fish, mutton, pork, some
beef, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, and bread. Cabbage, potatoes,
and carrots are part of the everyday fare. Some Buryat peoples in rural
areas may follow dietary habits of old with boiled meat, milk products,
and black tea constituting the basic meal; others, assimilating Russian
ways, have expanded their menu to include vegetables and baked goods.
Locally distilled tarasun was formerly the principal alcoholic beverage
of the Buryats. Vodka, the sale of which is a state monopoly, is now
the principal alcoholic beverage consumed by both Buryats and Russians.
Drunkenness is not uncommon.
B. Distribution of Economic Activity and Settlement
Industrial activity in the Ulan-Ude Area is concentrated largely
in Ulan-Ude and its environs and in the towns of Gusinoozersk, Kamensk,
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4nd Gusinoye Ozero. The mining of brown coal (lignite) is concentrated
around Ozero Gusinoye, but sdattered throughout the Ulan-Ude Area are
1. pen-pit mines for construction materials -- refractory and cement clays,
imestone, marble, and granite. Small food-processing plants also are
istributed throughout the Area.
I Three agricultural regions can be distinguished in the Area (see map).
tirrounding and serving the city of Ulan-Ude is a region where dairying
and vegetable growing are most prominent. East of Ozero Gusinoye and
West of the Selenga and KhilOk Rivers, livestock raising predominates.
In the third region -- along, the Tugnuy and Sukhara river watersheds
the principal economic activity is the production of grain, but live-
tock raising is also important.
More than half of the Ulan- Ude Area is covered with coniferous
forests used mainly by hunters and trappers and in a few areas by loggers.
1. Urban Areas
Ulan-Ude (Figure 6), with a population of about 2410,000, is
ihe focus Of economic, cultural, and civil activities of the Area. It
covers about 50 square miles, on the east bank of the Selenga River at
its confluence with the Uda River. The city is a growing complex of
etetories, military installations, cultural establishments, government
Offices, and multistory residential buildings. The industrial sector of
the city lies along the north bank of the Uda River, but several new
industrial and military installations have been constructed along the
South bank. Industrial activities reflect the resources of the Ulan-Ude
tlinterlande,nd include woodworking, meatpacking, flour milling, and brick
and glass production. In addition, Ulan-Ude has become an important rail
tenter with the largest locomotive car construction and repair shops
ipetween the Urals and the Pacific. An aircraft assembly plant is adjacent
to the Ulan-Ude Airfield, East, and all of the military facilities of the
Area are clustered within about 15 miles of Ulan-Ude (see map).
1 Ulan-Ude has no well-developed suburban zone. Although the transi-
tion from urban to rural landscape in the V1an-Ude Area is quite abrupt,
lithe density of rural settlement and the intensity of agricultural land
jp.se are slightly greater near the city.
GusinoOzersk (Figure 7), with a population of 11,600 in 1959, is the
second largest urban settlement in the Area and the center of a brown
Coal (lignite) mining industry that extends along the northern and western
!shores of Ozero Gusinoye. The coal is extracted by both shaft and open
pit (Figure 8) methods and is used primarily for supplying power to local
industries, In addition to the usual mining equipment and processing
Gusinoozersk is noted for an underground gasification plant,
6hich converts coal directly into gas and pipes it to the surface with a
minimum of expense and effort.
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Kamensk-, a settlement of 9,800 inhabitants in 1959, is located north-
west of Ulan-Ude, along the Trans-Siberian Railroad, Its primary economic
activity revolves about the Temlyuy Cement Plant, which operates the
largest open-pit mine for cement clays in the Area!
The fourth urban settlement is Gusinoye Ozero, a mining community
having 5)400 inhabitants in 1959. The town is located on the south shore
of Ozero Gusinoye, on the main rail line between Ulan-Ude and Ulan Bator,
Mongolian People's Republic, Coal-mining'is the primary economic activity.
2. Agricultural' Areas
Beyond. Ulan-.Ude and its environs, the river valleys and the
broad areas of natural grassland adjacent to them are occupied by .a
aeries of agricultural villages. Russians began moving into these val-
leys in the 18t11 century and settled along the rivers, typically in
shoestring villages consisting of two rows of log cabins facing one
another across a wide dirt road.. Buryat occupance was sparse and semi-
nomadic, with few permanent settlements. The Russians introduced grain
cultivation in many of the natural grasslands that had been used as
pastures by the Buryats. ?
During the Soviet period efforts have been made to change the tradi-
tional cultural and economic patterns of the Buryat$ and to organize
agricultural production and modernize the rural villages, both Russian
and Buryat. Attempts to Standardize socioeconomic institutions and to
assimilate Russian ways throughout the Area have not, however, completelY
-obliterated the distinctions between ethnic groups and their ways of
life in rural areas. The Russians are engaged primarily in growing grain
and. the Buryats in raising livestock and hunting. Villages that are
entirely or predominantly Russian tend to be located, in the valley bottoms
and along the main transportation routes, whereas some small villages
that are still inhabited only by Buryats are on valley slopes above the
rivers.
The larger and newer villages in the Ulan-Ude Area are built along a
grid of extremely wide dirt streets. Smaller Russian farming villages in
the Area today consist of houses lined up along a single road for a mile
or two. There are probably some small Buryat villages characterized by
an ungeometrical arrangement of dwellings and by pens and sheds for live-
stock near the houses. State and collective farms specializing in live-
stock have large, long barns with a series of dormers along the roof and
with associated stockyards. Villages that have been designated admin-
istrative centers of the rural soviet, or collective and state farm
centers, contain one or more communal facilities such as a nursery, grade
school, medical dispensary, and records office,
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Individual dwellings are generally built of logs. Most are rectan-
gular, butsame_are octagonal, in the shape of the traditional Buryat
yurta. A few of the Buryat yurtas (Figure 9) may still be seen in small
villages. YUrtas are felt-covered structures made on a circular frame-
work, sometimes in the form .of a tepee and often with an octagonal top;
they are easily dismantled and carried to another site. A well-tended
Vegetable plot behind each house is characteristic of the Russian Village.
, Most BUryats have established permanent settlements and adopted a
More sedentary way of life than formerly. Although they are organized
in collectives for raising livestock, planting crops, and storing feed
Thr winter Use (Figure 10), they still move their herds to seasonal
Pastures (Figures 11 and 12). Their movements involve fewer individuals,
however, and. are more closely regulated. than formerly. Cattle, sheep,
horses, goats, and hogs (Figure 13) are the animals of greatest signi-
ficance. Some collectives have small powerplants for operating sheep
shears, milking machines, and. other equipment.
Commercial fishing, primarily on the Selenga River and Ozero Baykal
and. Ozero'GUsinoye, has also been collectivized.. Large state farms in
the Selenga Valley specialize in poultry production (ducks and geese)
and use byproducts of the local fish canneries. Grain cultivation pre-
dominates in the southeastern part of the Area. The amount of land.
devoted. to rye has been decreasing, while that planted to wheat has
increased. greatly. Cabbages) potatoes, and carrots are common garden
crops. Sugarbeets have been introduced. into the Area and have grown well
enough to warrant the construction of several sugarbeet processing plants.
The acreage devoted to all these crops, particularly to wheat and. sugar-
beets, is expected. to continue to increase..
Activity in the countryside intensifies during the planting and
harvesting seasons. Wheat is planted in late Mayor early June and
harvested beginning in late August. In some parts of the Soviet Union
the local labor force is supplemented. by truckloads of youngsters brought
from the city during harvest time, and military units have also been
eMployed in the fields during critical periods. Whether these practices
are necessary in the Ulan-Ude Area, however, is not known. Mobile canteens
bring food to the various work brigades in the fields and temporary camps
of the Area.
3. Torested Uplands
In contrast to the grasslands, the great coniferous forests
ate almost uninhabited. The forested uplands in the southeastern part
of the Area have some small) Scattered settlements, but the slopes of
the Khrebet khamar ]ban in the northwest are completely uninhabited..
The forests are used mainly by hunters, trappers, and in a few areas by
14ggers. Soils are infertile and acid, and terrain is generally moun,
tainous or hilly.
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The Buryats have traditionally been skilled hunters and trappers of
fur-bearing animals. These activities are organized and of economic
importance. AHunting stations (Figure 14) are scattered throughout the
Area. Hunters on horseback move into the forests in late October and
early November and continue to hunt until late February. Breeding farms
for improving the strains of fox and sable have been established south-
east of Ulan-Ude (see map) and elsewhere.
Logging is concentrated in the pine forests of the mountains north-
west of Ozero Gusinoye and in an area southeast of Ulan-Ude. Only recently
the industry relied upon hand saws and axes, but now the logging camps use
power saws, winches and other hoists, and special trucks and tractors.
C. Transportation
The Ulan-Ude Area is served by the Trans-Siberian Railroad, which
passes along the southern shores of Ozero Baykal through Ulan-Ude and on
to Chita. A branch line extends southward from Ulan-Ude through Ulan
Bator to Peiping, Chinese People's Republic. The Trans-Siberian is heavily
traveled, with 12 passenger trains each way per day as well as numerous
freight trains. The branch line to the south has only two passenger
trains each way per day and a few freight trains.
Three all-weather highways cross the Area. One parallels the Trans-
Siberian Railroad along Ozero Baykal and runs through Ulan-Ude. Another
extends southwestward from V1ah-Ude to Gusinoozersk and Novo-Selenginsk
and beyond. The third highway extends southward from Ulan-Ude across the
mountains of the Khrebet Tsagan-Daban to MUkhor-Shibirt in the Sukhara
Basin and continues eastward. Dry-weather roads shown on Map 54585 are
ordinarily passable all year except during the thaw that occurs in late
March and early April and for a few days after heavy rains in July and
August.
In the smaller cities and villages, trucks assume a major role in
transporting people from remote collectives to settlements served by rail
or bus (Figure 15), but in rural areas people use whatever transportation
is available -- foot, horse, wagon, tractor, truck, or bus. Herds of
livestock are driven along the highways (Figure 16). Transportation within
the city of Ulan-Ude (Figure 6) is largely by bus or on foot and occasionally
by taxi or private passenger car.
Civil air operations in the Ulan-Ude Area are centered at the Ulan-Ude
Airfield, West, about 6 miles west of the city. This airfield has flight
connections with other parts of the Soviet Union. It also serves as the
operating base for local aerial ambulances, forest protection aircraft,
aerial geological surveys, and airplanes and helicopters that spread insec-
ticides and fertilizers. The small planes used in these local services
occasionally land on roads and in pastures.
-11-
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In summer, boats travel on the Selenga River and on lower portions
of the Chikoy, Khilok, and Uda Rivers. They can reach ()zero Baykal by
wlay of the Selena River, but few are suitable for use on the lal;e.
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Figure 2. A young Buryat of the white-collar class.
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Fizvre 1. A group of youngsters in Ulan-Ude. Most are Buryats, but at
least two appear to be Slays.
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Figure 3. A Buddhist datpan in the Buryat ASSR. Several less imposing
structures of this nature may be located in the Ulan-Ude Area-
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171111101r
;11!
14114gMigW
Figure 4. Buryat women weighing calves at a livestock collective farm.
White gowns are commonly worn by stock handlers.
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Figure 5. Children of Slavic appearance leaving a new secondary school
in Gusinpozersk.
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*?? ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: % ?%.
Figure 6, Street scene in the center of Ulan-Ude. The cars parked in
front of the government building are taxis. Privately owned cars are
scarce.
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Figure 7. Lenin Street in Gusinoozersk. Like many urban streets it is
wide but unpaved.
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Figure 8, An open-pit coal mine at
Gusinoozersk. The brown coal (lig,
nite) mined here is burned in local
powerplants.
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Figure 9, A Bury-at 41Asta. This t.,;(pe of port.e shelter is still used
by livestock herders in some grazing areas.
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Figure 10. Stacking hay in the fields of a collective farm. Women fre-
quently augment the labor force during the harvest season?
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Figure 11. A herd of Buryut horses. The life of the herdsman out on the
range appears to be much like that of the ngels of past eenturies.
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5-E-C-R-E-T
Figure 124 A flock of sheep grazing on natural grasslands. Such flocks
are herded from one seasonal pasture to another during the year.
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:5:55
:55555555,:,
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Figure 13. Hogs on collective farm near Ulan-Ude. ENryats frequently
constitute the labor force of a livestock collective
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SEC-RET
14. A state fur-delivery station. The trappers are paid for the
sable, fox, squirrel; and muskrat pelts that they de1iver here. Notice
the heavy winter clothing worn by trappers and station personnel.
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Figure 15. Bus on a hi,ghway near Ulan-W . Palle buses connect the
major settlements.
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Figure 16. Dairy cattle being driven along a main highway
in the Ulan-Ude Area.
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SECRET
SECRET
Approvecrrg2 kfsTab cid41/14vi 49 00 1-1
25X1A
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..;? ?
Pr
STATINTL
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,020,2/71
STATINTL
STATINTL
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C1Y 7
sanJ
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ALL ebsikiws
Dit toerl opv
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Proof opy
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DISTRIBUTION LIST
TITLEpOeFoREPORT
pie and Activities in the Ulan-Ude Area
DATE
Sept 1966
171Figy74.
PRC4C.T2,1?1.
CLASSIFICATION
?614VAEIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DIS
NAME OF REQUESTERDR STANLEY ROME
/V? RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY
OF ANALYST
BRANCH
GD/s
GRAPHICS
Maps & photos
COPY NO.
RECIPIENT
DATE SENT
, 10
Requester f 6with complete graphics, 14 without)
2
GD/S report files(maps only)
1
GD/S substast ive file (complete graphics)
1
D/OBI
1
GD file STATINTL
1
GD Editors
FORM
1 26,
2362
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Apptoved For Rel
Figure 1.. A group of youngsters in Ulan-Ude. Most are Buryats but at
least two appear to be Slays.
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00/09/14 ? gA-1)P84-00825R0001407.70001-1
Figure 2. A young Buryat of the white-collar class.
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1
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ye.tAgt,
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Figure 3. A Buddhist datsap in the Buryat ASSR. Several less imposing
structures of this nature may be located in the Ulap-Ude Area.
? S-E-C,R,E7T
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,
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Figure 4. Buryat women weighing calves at a livestock calective farm.
:White gowns are commonly worn by stock handlers.
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12,0467;i0
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Figure 5. Children of SlaVie appearance leaving a new secondary .8chool
in Gu$inoozersk.
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Figure 6. Street scene. in the center of Ulan-Ude. The oars parked in
front of the government building are taxis. Privately owned cars are
scarce.
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1
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Figure 7. .Lenin Street in gusinoezersic. Like many urban streets it is
wide but unpaved.
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?
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-C-R-E-T Nair
Figure 8. An open-pit coal mine at
Gupinoozersk, The brown coal (lig-
nite) mined here is burned in local
powerplants.
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1
tr?
Figure 9. A Buryat z.21:11. This type Qf portable shelter is still used
by livestock herders in sone zrazing areas.
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Nisos
Figure 10. Stacking hay in the fields of a collective farm, Women fre-
quently augment the labor force during the harvest season.,
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Figure 11. A herd of Buryat horses. The life of the herdsman out on the
range appears to be much like that of the Mongols of past centuries,
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Figure 12. A flock of sheep grazing
are herded from one seasonal pasture
on natural grasslands. Such flocks
to another- during the year.
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Figure 13. Hogs on collective farm near Ulan-Ude. Buryats frequently
constitute the labor force of a livestock collec!tivp,
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Figure 14. A state fur-delivery station. The trappers are paid for the
sable, fox, squirrel, and muskrat 'pelts that they deliver here. Notice
the heavy winter clothing worn by trappers and station personnel.
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,g4m77etit
4? +5
,..:. ,
?
-
Figure i. Bus on
major settlements.
"
i4;;OV
a highway near Ulan-Ude. Public buses connect the
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'
??
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.t.
Figure 1.6. Dairy cattle being driven along a main highway
. in the Ulan-Ude Area.
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