BIYSK

also spelled Bijsk, or Biisk, city, Altay kray (region), central Russia. The city is situated on the right bank of the Biya River, just above the latter's confluence with the Katun, which then forms the Ob. Biysk is located at the head of navigation on the Biya and is the terminus of a railway from Barnaul. The city is also linked by highway to Mongolia. It was founded in 1709 as a fortress and incorporated as a town in 1782. The modern city of Biysk has a range of engineering and consumer-goods industries. Pop. (1991 est.) 234,600.