Severobaikalsk is situated at the northern edge of Lake Baikal. It was found in 1974 owing to the Baikal-Amur mainline construction. That time it was regarded as a basic settlement for the building-workers of the Buryat section of the BAM (510 km) named “Novogodny” (“New Year’s”). In several years the settlement turned into a big transport center with powerful constructing complex and developed social infrastructure as well. In November, 1980 the Buryat Republic Supreme Council awarded Severobaikalsk with a city-status of the republic importance.

The Severobaikalsk’s Sea Port is connected with Irkutsk by the motor-ship “Cometa” that goes three times a week up to the Baikal settlement within the navigational period (June-September). It takes 10 hours to reach Irkutsk without stopovers.

The city center is presented by Leningrad Avenue that lays starting from the railway station to the central square where a majority of the cultural, administrative and commercial establishments are concentrated.

There are no industrial enterprises in the city, and the principal one is the Eastern Siberia Railroad Department. BAM went away along with the large building-construction and transport companies. Many small trade, construction and meal establishments as well as food-stuff mini-plants came up to take their place.

The local five-store dwelling houses surprise each city’s guest with uncommon outlines. They seem to be built by means of many separate cells, and it hard to find any direct line as there are only curve ones on them. One more interesting thing is lack of balconies due to a special anti-seismic type of houses.

There are six secondary schools, gymnasia, vocational training facility, nine preschool institutions, and the branch of the Irkutsk State Railroad Institute with all-time as well as part-time education. Besides, there are presented the branches of the Moscow University of Peoples’ Friendship, Chelyabinsk Juridical College, and Bratsk Industrial Institution as well. The overall number of the students and schoolchildren runs to over 6, 000 people.

Severobaikalsk is the sport capital situated in the north of Buryatia. There are operating seven sport halls including specialized ones.

When the winter comes around (for a half year), the thermal springs convert into a place of tourist pilgrimage. The most advanced people combine swimming with the downhill skiing there.

At 25 km from Severobaikalsk, a town of Nizhneangarsk is situated there. Initially, there was built a winter hut in 1643. Eventually, it was replaced by a town that is present-day Nizhneangarsk. The government of the Severobaikalsk district with the Department of Tourism and Informational Center locates there as well as the Museum of Local Lore and airport. Besides, the airport of Nizhneangarsk carries on flights to Ulan-Ude (1 h. 20 min) and Irkutsk (1 h 15 min).