Mennonite settlements of Altai

Mennonite settlements of Altai arose after the 19 September 1906 act of the Duma and State Council of Imperial Russia, which provided for a resettlement bureau to distribute free land in Altai Krai. During 1907–1908 an area of over 6,660,000 ha (26,000 mi2) of the Kulunda Steppe was set aside for settlers.