Expansion features of Irkutsk suburban areas’ development

This article is devoted to the problems of spatial development of the suburban zone of the city of Irkutsk in post-Soviet realities. The paper presents some features of suburbanization in Russia, as well as geographic factors that influence the formation and development of the Irkutsk agglomeration, such as high dependence on the poly-highway; a special model of industrial development; Baikal factor. Particular attention is paid to the peculiarities of development in various directions and spatial differentiation of various types of suburbs. The reasons and consequences of such development are considered. A typology of the Irkutsk suburban area is presented based on the nature of the settlements with a brief description.