Features of Salt Production at the Selenga Salt Plant in the Late 19th Century (Based on Materials From the State Archive of the Republic of Buryatia)

The article analyzes the collections of the Republic of Buryatia State Archive as a source for studying the specific features of salt production at the Selenga Salt Plant. Since some of the documents related to the plant's activities are kept in the archives of Irkutsk and Chita, the materials held in the State Archive of the Republic of Buryatia are of significant importance for reconstructing an accurate picture of the plant’s operations. The article presents information on the plant’s infrastructure and provides a description of the natural conditions of the area where it was located. Based on the study of archival documents, the production process is described in detail, a comparative analysis of the salt-bath furnaces (varnitsy) is given, and the main reasons for the plant’s closure are identified. The article concludes that local salt production was effective for the regional economy in the second half of the 19th century.