Irkutsk is one of the largest cities in Siberia, located on the banks of the Angara River. Founded in 1661 as an stockaded town, Irkutsk became an important center of trade and cultural life in the region. Today it is the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast and a major industrial and scientific center. Its proximity to Lake Baikal, the largest and deepest freshwater lake in the world, makes Irkutsk a popular tourist destination.
