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Belokurikha (English)
Белокуриха (Russian)
-  Town  -
Белокуриха, Алтайский край. Вид на город 03.jpg
View of the town, 2010
Coat of Arms of Belokurikha.svg
Flag of Belokurikha.svg
Coat of arms
Flag
Administrative status
Country Russia
Federal subject Altai Krai
Administratively subordinated to town of krai significance of Belokurikha
Administrative center of town of krai significance of Belokurikha
Municipal status
Urban okrug Belokurikha Urban Okrug
Administrative center of Belokurikha Urban Okrug
Statistics
Population (2010 Census,
preliminary)
14,661 inhabitants
Time zone OMST (UTC+07:00)
Founded 1803
Town status since 1982
Postal code(s) 659900, 659901
Dialing code(s) +7 38577
Official website: http://belokuriha-gorod.ru
Белокуриха, Алтайский край. Вид на город 05
Belokurikha. The view of the city from the mountains Church

Belokurikha (Russian: Белоку́риха) is a special kind of town in the Altai region of Russia. It is known as a health resort because of its natural healing waters. The town is located on the Belokurikha River, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Barnaul. Barnaul is the main city of the Altai region. In 2010, about 14,661 people lived in Belokurikha.

What is Belokurikha Like?

Where is Belokurikha Located?

Belokurikha is in the southeastern part of the Altai Krai. It sits in the valley of the Belokurikha River. The town is about 240–250 meters (787–820 feet) above sea level. It is at the bottom of the Church Mountain. This area is in the foothills of the Altai Mountains. It is famous for its warm radon waters.

What is the Weather Like?

The weather in Belokurikha is special for Siberia. It has a high average temperature for the year. The weather is often calm with not much wind. The air pressure does not change a lot. It rains up to 800 mm (31.5 inches) each year, mostly in summer. The average temperature in July is about +18°C to +20°C (64°F to 68°F). In summer, the air pressure is lower than in winter and spring. Snow usually starts in November. The average winter temperature is -15.9°C (3.4°F), but it can get much colder.

What Plants Grow There?

The southern part of Belokurikha is next to the Cherginsky mountain range. This area has many pine trees and bushes. You can find Rowan trees, cherry bushes, and maral plants. Other plants like oak and Manchurian nut trees have also been brought to the area and grow well.

Belokurikha's History

In the 1920s, a resort village was started where the village of Novobelokurikha used to be. During World War II, in 1942, a famous children's camp called "Artek" was moved to Belokurikha for safety. Most of the health resorts were built in the 1960s. People still visit these resorts to get treatment and relax today.

In 1970, Belokurikha became a very important resort for the whole country. In 1982, it officially became a city. Since 1992, it has been a federal resort, which means it is important for the entire country's health and tourism. Russia's President Vladimir Putin visited Belokurikha in 2003 and again in 2016.

How to Get to Belokurikha

Belokurikha is close to several cities. Biysk is 65 kilometers (40 miles) away. Gorno-Altaysk is 115 kilometers (71 miles) away. Barnaul is 236 kilometers (147 miles) away. You can travel to Belokurikha by bus from many cities. These include Barnaul, Biysk, Gorno-Altaisk, Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk, Mezhdurechensk, Novosibirsk, and Tomsk. The closest airport is in Gorno-Altaysk. The nearest train station is in Biysk.

How Many People Live Here?

As of January 1, 2018, Belokurikha was the 786th largest city out of 1113 cities in Russia based on its population.

Belokurikha as a Health Resort

Today, the resort area of Belokurikha can host over 5,000 visitors at one time. There are 19 different places in the city where people can get health treatments and relax. These places have about 5,000 spots for guests.

What Makes it a Healing Place?

Good Weather for Health

Belokurikha has a fairly warm average yearly temperature for Siberia, around +4°C (39°F). This mild climate is good for health treatments.

Clean Mountain Air

The air in the mountains has special tiny particles called light air ions. These are very important for healing. In Belokurikha, there are many light air ions, from 1014 to 2400.

Healing Thermal Water

The springs in Belokurikha have warm water that contains nitrogen and silicon. This water is used for special baths called nitrogen baths. The water comes out of the ground at temperatures between 30°C and 42°C (86°F and 108°F).

Skiing in the Mountains

In early 2010, the resort had three main ski slopes. The "Katun" slope is the main one, 800 meters (2,625 feet) long. The "North" slope is 650 meters (2,133 feet) long. The "Church" slope is the longest at 2050 meters (6,726 feet).

Belokurikha: "Siberian Davos"

Belokurikha is not just known as a health resort. It is also a place where big events and meetings are held. Because of this, it is sometimes called the "Siberian Davos," like the famous meeting place in Switzerland.

Researching Health Treatments

In February 2016, a special research center was opened in Belokurikha. It is called the Altai Research Institute of Balneology. This institute studies the natural healing factors of the region. They use this research to create new ways of treatment. They also plan how to improve the resort area, including "Belokurikha" and "Belokurikha-2."

Belokurikha-2: A New Development

"Belokurikha-2" is a new tourist and health area being built. It is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the main town of Belokurikha. This new area will have modern medical facilities and tourist attractions. It will also feature seven new ski slopes.

In 2017, plans were made to set up important services like electricity, gas, water, and a sewer system. A historical and architectural village called "St. Andrew's village" has been open since 2017.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Belokúrija para niños

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