Gorno-Altaysk (Russian: Го́рно-Алта́йск; Altay: Улалу, romanized: Ulalu; historically, pre-1932: Ulala) is the capital town of the Altai Republic, Russia.

The population stands at around 64,000 people as of 2020 with steady growth over the recent years [when?]. In the past, the town was known as Ulala (until June 23, 1932) and then Oyrot-Tura (June 23, 1932 - January 7, 1948).

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1926	5,691	—
1939	24,045	+322.5%
1959	27,534	+14.5%
1970	34,413	+25.0%
1979	40,296	+17.1%
1989	46,436	+15.2%
2002	53,538	+15.3%
2010	56,933	+6.3%
2021	65,342	+14.8%
Source: Census data

The selo of Ulala (Улала) was established in 1824 when migrants moved to this area from Biysk. When Oirot Autonomous Oblast was established on June 1, 1922, Ulala became its administrative center. On February 27, 1928, Ulala was granted town status and on June 23, 1932, it was renamed Oyrot-Tura (Ойрот-Тура). The present name was given to the town on January 7, 1948.

Gorno-Altaysk has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterised by frigid winters and warm to very warm summers. Precipitation is moderate and is much higher in the hotter summer months than in the frigid winter season, when it falls entirely as low-water-content snow.

Gorno-Altaysk is the capital of the republic. Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as Gorno-Altaysk Urban Okrug—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, this administrative unit also has urban okrug status.

The town is served by the Gorno-Altaysk Airport, with regular flights to the city of Moscow and a few other major Russian cities.

Highway M52 passes through Gorno-Altaysk, connecting it with Novosibirsk in the north and the Mongolian border in the south.

The closest railway station is 96 kilometers (60 mi) from Gorno-Altaysk. It is located in the city of Biysk.

The town hosts a theater as well as several cinemas, the Gorno-Altaisk State University, and the Anokhin Museum. The mountains located within the town's boundaries are a magnet for skiing as well as backpacking. Several football fields with artificial grass are available to the public for free.

Only the most vital streets in Gorno-Altaysk are kept in good condition as of 2020. The rivers are safe to swim in and the tap water is safe to drink. Most of the buildings have central heating, usually powered by a gas burning station serving either one or several buildings.

• Горно-Алтайский городской Совет депутатов. Постановление №12-З от 29 августа 2013 г. «Устав муниципального образования "Город Горно-Алтайск"», в ред. Решения №24-5 от 25 июня 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Устав муниципального образования "Город Горно-Алтайск"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования (15 октября 2013 г.). Опубликован: Официальный портал муниципального образования "Город Горно-Алтайск", 15 октября 2013 г. (Gorno-Altaysk Town Council of Deputies. Resolution #12-Z of August 29, 2013 Charter of the Municipal Formation of the "Town of Gorno-Altaysk", as amended by the Decision #24-5 of June 25, 2015 On Amending the Charter of the Municipal Formation of the "Town of Gorno-Altaysk". Effective as of the day of official publication (October 15, 2013).).
• 7 июня 1997 г. «Конституция Республики Алтай (Основной Закон)», в ред. Конституционного закона №3-КРЗ от 7 июля 2015 г. «О внесении поправок в статью 118 Конституции Республики Алтай». Опубликован: "Звезда Алтая", 11 июля 1997 г. (June 7, 1997 Constitution of the Altai Republic (Basic Law), as amended by the Constitutional Law #3-KRZ of July 7, 2015 On Amending Article 118 of the Constitution of the Altai Republic. ).
• Государственное Собрание —Эл Курултай Республики Алтай. Закон №101-РЗ от 10 ноября 2008 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Республики Алтай», в ред. Закона №51-РЗ от 6 октября 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Республики Алтай "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Республики Алтай"». Вступил в силу по истечении 10 дней после дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: Приложение к газете "Звезда Алтая", 14 ноября 2008 г. (State Assembly of the Altai Republic—El Kurultai. Law #101-RZ of November 10, 2008 On the Administrative and Territorial Structure of the Altai Republic, as amended by the Law #51-RZ of October 6, 2015 On Amending the Law of the Altai Republic "On the Administrative and Territorial Structure of the Altai Republic". Effective as of after 10 days after the official publication day.).
• Государственное Собрание —Эл Курултай Республики Алтай. Закон №10-РЗ от 13 января 2005 г. «Об образовании муниципальных образований, наделении соответствующим статусом и установлении их границ», в ред. Закона №12-РЗ от 31 марта 2015 г. «О преобразовании муниципальных образований на территории Майминского района Республики Алтай и о внесении изменений в Закон Республики Алтай "Об образовании муниципальных образований, наделении соответствующим статусом и установлении их границ"». Опубликован: "Звезда Алтая", №7–8, №23–24, 18 января 2005 г., 5 февраля 2005 г. (State Assembly of the Altai Republic—El Kurultai. Law #10-RZ of January 13, 2005 On Establishing the Municipal Formations, on Granting Them an Appropriate Status, and on Establishing Their Borders, as amended by the Law #12-RZ of March 31, 2015 On the Transformation of the Municipal Formations on the Territory of Mayminsky District of the Altai Republic and on Amending the Law of the Altai Republic "On Establishing the Municipal Formations, on Granting Them an Appropriate Status, and on Establishing Their Borders". ).

• Official website of Gorno-Altaysk (in Russian)
• Gorno-Altaysk Business Directory jsprav.ru (in Russian)
• Official website of the Gorno-Altaysk State University (in Russian)