| Irkutsk |
| Like many of the cities in Siberia, Irkutsk was founded as a Cossack encampment. The nobleman Ivan Pokhabov led the Cossack troops, which collected fur tribute from the Buryats around Lake Baikal. |
| Ulan Ude |
| Capital of the Buryat Republic, the origin of its name is disputed: some claim it is derived from the Mongolian word for "noon" (ude); others believe it is from the Selkup word for water. |
