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Population
The population
density of the Pribaikalsky district is very low: about 2 pp/km2.
Its total population is 29,000 people (2007), of which 25% is living in the
urban centre of the district capital, Turuntaevo (7,000). The remaining rural
population is dispersed over 2 settlements (Turka and Iljinka) and 36 rural
inhabited localities. Most population settlements are along the Selenga river
valley, the roads, the railway and the coast. Since 1993, net population growth
in the district has stopped as a result of worsening socio-economic conditions
resulting in reduced health conditions and migration. The area is notorious for
its high incidence of diseases related to ticks (encephalitis).
There used to be a
small fishing settlement along the coast (Talanki) near the delta of the
Talanchanka river. A horse trail led from the village to Lake Kolok and further
to Gurulovo connecting to the main road. In the late 1960’s, the people were
resettled to Gremyachinsk with a population of 800 people, following a move of
the government to reduce costs of social services. In Talanka, the leskhoz
maintains an outpost, the hunting department has a cabin, and some few houses
are still used for recreation, fishing and tourism purposes.
Pribaikalsky
district is the biggest timber supplier of the Republic, with a share of 28% of
the total output. The district is poorly industrialised, with forestry and
agriculture (farming and livestock husbandry) being the most important economic
sectors. As the district has a strong forestry orientation, forestry enterprises
contribute 60% of the total value of the industrial output.
The forestry
sector in the district used to employ some 3,000 people (70% of the total number
of the industrial personnel), although these numbershave been declining since
1990. There are 4 leskhozes situated in the district, which employ a total of
some 300 people. The four logging companies operating in the zakasnik primarily
use local labour for their working force.
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