Baikalsk has been built at the Trans-Siberian Railroad. The highway Irkutsk-Ulan-Ude (Moscow Highway) crosses the city. The railroad distance between Baikalsk and Irkutsk equals to 167 km, and the highway mileage runs to 154 km. The city is referred to the cities of the Irkutsk region with the developed industrial potential.

The population of Baikalsk numbers 17, 100 people, and these data haven’t changed since 1989. Baikalsk was ranked as a city in 1966.

The basis of the city economy (98% main funds) presents the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Plant built in the early 60s. The principal output of the plant is pulp. About 60 % of the trade cellulose pulp is exported to the countries of the non-CIS states.

The area around Baikalsk is of a big interest from the sport tourism point of view. There are represented the touristic trekking itineraries of diverse difficulty categories with the elevation changes up to 2,400 m. Not to mention the possibilities of the water sport tourism thanks to the presence of the mountain rivers with numerous rifts on them.

The requisite basis for the seminars, conferences, festivals as well as sport competitions is found there. Within the previous years a range of important activities took place in the city.  The mountain skiing base by the initiative of the BPPP’s authorities was found in the city. It attends the plant’s employees and attracts multiply sportsmen from Irkutsk. There is no another similar mountain skiing base next to Lake Baikal. On account of that, this very base is in the public eye of the Irkutsk and Siberian district citizens.

In fact, Sobolinaya Mount possesses the three main downhill skiing slopes intended for both public and sport skiing. The slopes’ extension attains 2,000 m with the elevation changes of 500 m. The numerous branches allow considerably vary the skiing  routes. Moreover, six sport traces had been certificated there.