Ust-Kut was on a portage between the Yenisei and Lena Rivers
It was founded in 1631 by Siberian Cossackataman Ivan Galkin, who built an ostrog (fort) there.[citation needed] The fort's military importance declined in the latter half of the 17th century; however, the settlement was increasingly important as a river port, becoming one of the main starting points for trade along the Lena.
Mineral springs to the west of the town were reportedly discovered as early as the 17th century by Yerofey Khabarov and a spa was built at the site in 1925.
In the early 20th century Ust-Kut served as a destination for political exiles, most notably Leon Trotsky.
In 1951, the railway from Tayshet reached Ust-Kut. The town thus became the first and only river port on the Lena served by the railway and an important railhead through which cargoes could travel to and from the locations along the Lena, such as most of Yakutia. Ust-Kut was granted town status in 1954, with the merger of the original settlement of Ust-Kut and the river port suburb of Osetrovo.[citation needed]
Ust-Kut remained the end of the line until 1974, when construction work started to extend the railway, now known as the Baikal–Amur Mainline, east toward Lake Baikal and beyond. The town became the headquarters of the construction of the western section of the BAM.
Ust-Kut's economy relies mainly on its position as a transport hub, with the connection of road and rail transport with river traffic on the Lena. During the summer months, passenger ferries depart downriver from Ust-Kut to Yakutsk and Tiksi. There is a road bridge over the river in Ust-Kut.
There are also shipyards and food production in the town.
Ust-Kut is spread along the Baikal–Amur Mainline with multiple stations, including the smaller Ust-Kut station and the actual main station Lena near the river port in Osetrovo. At the small settlement of Yakurim a few kilometers further, the railway crosses the Lena via a 500-meter (1,600ft) bridge, the last bridge across the river for its entire length.
The town is served by the Ust-Kut Airport, located 9 kilometers (5.6mi) northwest of the town center.
Законодательное Собрание Иркутской области.Постановление№9/5-ЗСот15 апреля 2009 г. «Устав Иркутской области», в ред. Закона №2-У от14 декабря 2017 г.«О поправках к Уставу Иркутской области». Вступил в силупо истечении десяти дней после дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Областная", №45, 24 апреля 2009 г. (Legislative Assembly of Irkutsk Oblast.Resolution#9/5-ZSofApril15, 2009 Charter of Irkutsk Oblast, as amended by the Law#2-U ofDecember14, 2017 On the Amendments to the Charter of Irkutsk Oblast. Effective as ofthe day following a ten-day period after the day of the official publication.).
Законодательное Собрание Иркутской области.Закон№49-ОЗот21 июня 2010 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Иркутской области», в ред. Закона №12-ОЗ от23 марта 2017 г.«О внесении изменений в статьи25 и33 Закона Иркутской области "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Иркутской области" и Закон Иркутской области "О порядке рассмотрения Законодательным Собранием Иркутской области предложений о присвоении наименований географическим объектам и (или) о переименовании географических объектов"». Вступил в силупосле дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Областная", №71, 25 июня 2010 г. (Legislative Assembly of Irkutsk Oblast.Law#49-OZofJune21, 2010 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Irkutsk Oblast, as amended by the Law#12-OZ ofMarch23, 2017 On Amending Articles25 and33 of the Law of Irkutsk Oblast "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Irkutsk Oblast" and the Law of Irkutsk Oblast "On the Procedures for Consideration of Assignments of Names to Geographical Objects and (or) Renaming of Geographical Objects". Effective as ofafter the day of the official publication.).
Законодательное Собрание Иркутской области.Закон№93-озот16 декабря 2004 г. «О статусе и границах муниципальных образований Усть-Кутского района Иркутской области», в ред. Закона №63-ОЗ от7 июля 2015 г.«О распространении действия Закона Иркутской области "О статусе и границах муниципальных образований Черемховского района Иркутской области" на всю территорию нового субъекта Российской Федерации— Иркутской области и внесении изменений в отдельные законы Иркутской области». Вступил в силус 31декабря 2004г., но не ранее чем через 10дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Восточно-Сибирская правда", №254–255, 20 декабря 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of Irkutsk Oblast.Law#93-ozofDecember16, 2004 On the Status and Borders of the Municipal Formations of Ust-Kutsky District of Irkutsk Oblast, as amended by the Law#63-OZ ofJuly7, 2015 On Expanding the Scope of the Law of Irkutsk Oblast "On the Status and Borders of the Municipal Formations of Cheremkhovsky District of Irkutsk Oblast" to the Whole Territory of the New Federal Subject of the Russian Federation—Irkutsk Oblast—and on Amending Several Laws of Irkutsk Oblast. Effective as ofDecember31, 2004, but not earlier than 10days after the official publication date.).
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