Tunka Basin

a system of intermontane depressions in the western part of the Buriat ASSR. Bounded on the south by the Khamar-Daban Mountains and on the north by the Tunka Gol’tsy, the Tunka Basin is about 200 km long, with widths ranging from 20 to 40–50 km. It consists of a number of independent basins—the Mondy, Khoitogol, Turan, Tunka proper, and Tor basins—which are separated from one another by low ridges. The basin’s elevation drops from 1,400 m in the west to 500–600 m in the east. The Irkut River and its tributaries flow along the basin. Forest-steppe and steppe predominate on the plains of the intermontane basins; most of the steppe area is sown with grain. The forest-steppe regions have larch-birch coppices and pine forests. At higher elevations there are larch forests on soddy podzolized soils. Dairy cattle are raised. The region abounds in mineral springs.