"Pobeda" airline starts flights from Moscow to Irkutsk.

      The flights will be operated daily by Boeing 737-800 from Moscow's Vnukovo Airport.

      Irkutsk became the second most distant city on the map of flights of "Pobeda" after the capital of Buryatia - Ulan-Ude.

With the cultural heritage of its aristocratic exiles, the Asian influence of nearby Mongolia and China and the easy accessibility of the Lake Baikal, Irkutsk is one of the most appealing cities in Russia. Certainly, the biggest attraction in Irkutsk is Lake Baikal, which is near enough for a day trip. The lake is world famous for its pure cold waters, unique flora and fauna and unforgettable views of the biggest water body in the continent. There are also nature reserves around the lake, which total more than a million hectares. In 1996, UNESCO declared the lake and its surrounding basin to be a National World Heritage Site.