IRKUTSK, capital of the Russian government of that name, is the residence of the gov.gen. of eastern Siberia, and the seat of a bishop. It is'sltuated on the right bank of the Angara, near its confluence with the river Irknt. in lat. 52° 17' n., and long. 104° 26' e., and is 3,842 m distant from St. Petersburg The town is about 1200 ft. above the level of the sea, and enjoys a very healthy climate, though in winter the cold is so severe as to freeze mercury. The streets are straight and wide, but ill-paved, and time houses mostly built of timber. The town possesses 23 Greek churches, 9 hospitals, a theater, 16 schools (including a gymnasium), and 86 factories or works. Besides these the town contains a public library, a museum of natural history, and some other public institutions. The pop. is about 32,000, consisting mostly of Russians and Buriats. Irkutsk was founded in 1661 by a Cossack chief named Iwan Poehapof, and owing to its position on the great thoroughfare between eastern and western Siberia, between China and Russia, it soon became the commercial center of Siberia, especially for the ten-trade. The current of the Angara is So rapid that the strongest frosts cover it but sel
dom with ice. Nevertheless, it is navigable, and constitutes the ,mainway for the goods bound for Kiachta by means of lake Baykal, as well as for those coming from eastern Siberia, Russian America, and China to Irkutsk. The former are chiefly furs and metals; the latter, and fish from lake Barkal. The communications between Irkutsk and Jakutsk, and the other northern towns of Siberia, are carried on by the river Lena. The manufactures of Irkutsk are purely local, and supply the half-nomad Buriats and 'Funguses inhabiting the adjacent country.