🏙️ Webcams Bratsk online — watch in real time

Bratsk webcams: watching the Siberian industrial giant

Bratsk is located in Irkutsk Oblast and is the second most populous city in the region. Situated on the banks of the Angara River, it is renowned for its powerful energy sector, large-scale aluminum production, and impressive construction scope. Watch the Bratsk Hydroelectric Station — a monumental landmark of Soviet hydroengineering, and the BrAZ industrial complex, known as the "aluminum capital of Siberia."

History of Bratsk: from fortress to hydroelectric station

The area where Bratsk now stands was settled long ago. The first Russian settlement here — Bratsky Ostrog — was founded by Cossacks in 1631 at the confluence of the Angara and Oka rivers. The fortress served as a base for collecting yasak tribute and exploring Transbaikal. It was a place of exile for many notable historical figures, including Protopop Avvakum.

After the revolution, the village entered a new phase of development. In 1946, the Bratsk corrective labor camp was organized to construct the Tayshet—Bratsk railway branch. Prisoners built roads, power lines, and temporary housing. In early 1947, the camp held about 50 thousand people.

Bratsk HPP: the largest in the world (at the time)

Bratsk is unimaginable without the Bratsk Hydroelectric Station. It was commissioned in 1967 with an "excellent" rating. The installed capacity of the station is 4,500 MW, consisting of 18 radial-axial hydro units of 250 MW each. The dam has a height of 124.5 m and a length of 924 m.

At the time of its opening, the Bratsk HPP became the world's largest hydroelectric power station by installed capacity. It formed the Bratsk Reservoir — the largest in Russia by useful volume and one of the largest in the world. The station became the primary frequency regulator in the Unified Power System of Siberia.

City districts and modern appearance

Modern Bratsk is the result of ambitious plans and large-scale construction. The city's districts each have their own history. The Gidrostroitel settlement, established in 1955 as a temporary production base for the construction site, is now one of the city's districts. Padun, Energetik, Gidrostroitel, and Bratsk Sea were annexed to the city between 1973 and 1999.

Climate and nature of Siberia

Located in a sharply continental climate, Bratsk can drop to -50.9 °C in winter and heat up to +25…+30 °C in summer. The heating season lasts 246 days — more than eight months. Despite this, the city has maintained developed infrastructure, including an international airport and BAM transit roads.

Flooded settlements and underwater labyrinth

The creation of the Bratsk Reservoir flooded many historical sites. The settlement of Zayarsk was abolished in 1964, and the village of Shamanova, which had existed for 306 years since the 17th century, also ended up underwater. Legends tell of flooded villages and house foundations that are said to be visible through the ice in winter. The reservoir bed is an underwater archaeological site.

Aluminum capital of Siberia

The Bratsk Aluminum Plant, founded in 1966, is the largest in Russia and the second most powerful aluminum producer in the world. The plant produces about 30% of Russian and 4% of global aluminum. Investments in environmental modernization exceed 2 billion rubles, with modern technologies being implemented to reduce emissions.

What the cameras show

This page features webcams that allow you to observe life in Bratsk in real time. Key viewing directions include city center views, panoramas of the Bratsk HPP, the waterfront, and the industrial zone. Watch BrAZ and its surroundings, important transportation hubs, and key infrastructure facilities. The Bratsk webcam allows you to observe the city's industrial development, landscape changes, and the rhythm of life in this Siberian metropolis.