Altaysky District is located in the southeast of Altay Krai, on the border with the Altai Republic. The area is on the transitional piedmont between the forest steppe of the West Siberian Plain to the west and the Altai Mountains to the southeast. The Katun River runs south to north along the eastern border of the district, about 100 km upstream from where the Katun meets the Ob River. Altaysky District is 150 km southeast of the regional city of Barnaul, and 3,050 km east of Moscow. The area measures 75 km (north-south), and 75 km (west-east); total area is 3,490 km2 (about 2% of Altai Krai). The administrative center is the town of Altayskoye in the north-center of the district.[3]
The first small settlement of Russians occurred with the founding of Lower Kayancha in 1796. The other main villages were settled shortly thereafter (between 1802 and 1806).[3] In the early 1900s, the royal court advanced funds to build a horse-drawn carriage road from Biysk south through the district to Mongolia; this road became the Chuysky Highway. Altai District was formally founded on May 27, 1924.
Economy
The district's economy centers on agriculture, primarily livestock and the related forage crops. The flat plains of the district support grain and sunflower crops, and there is a fish-cultivation center. In recent years, tourism has become more of a focus, with over 10,000 visitors in recent summers drawn by the summer camps and a new tourist-recreational area called "Turquoise Katun".[3]
Алтайский краевой Совет народных депутатов. Закон №28-ЗС от 1 марта 2008 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Алтайского края», в ред. Закона №16-ЗС от 4 апреля 2017 г. «О присоединении станции Железнодорожная Казарма 572 км к посёлку Октябрьскому Октябрьского сельсовета Кулундинского района Алтайского края и внесении изменений в отдельные законы Алтайского края». Вступил в силу 8 марта 2008 г. Опубликован: "Алтайская правда", №67, 8 марта 2008 г. (Altai Krai Council of People's Deputies. Law #28-ZS of March 1, 2008 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Altai Krai, as amended by the Law #16-ZS of April 4, 2017 On Merging the Station of Zheleznodorozhnaya Kazarma 572 km into the Settlement of Oktyabrsky in Oktyabrsky Selsoviet of Kulundinsky District of Altai Krai and on Amending Various Laws of Altai Krai. Effective as of March 8, 2008.).
Алтайский краевой Совет народных депутатов. Закон №84-ЗС от 12 сентября 2006 г. «О статусе и границах муниципальных и административно-территориальных образований Алтайского района Алтайского края», в ред. Закона №49-ЗС от 3 июня 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в отдельные Законы Алтайского края о статусе и границах муниципальных и административно-территориальных образований». Вступил в силу через 10 дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Алтайская правда", №296 (без приложений), 21 сентября 2006 г. (Altai Krai Council of People's Deputies. Law #84-ZS of September 12, 2006 On the Status and the Borders of the Municipal and the Administrative-Territorial Formations of Altaysky District of Altai Krai, as amended by the Law #49-ZS of June 3, 2015 On Amending Various Laws of Altai Krai on the Status and Borders of the Municipal and Administrative-Territorial Formations. Effective as of after 10 days after the day of the official publication.).