The book is dedicated to the famous Russian and Polish scientist Yu.D. Talko-Gryntsevich, who devoted 16 years to the study of Transbaikalia. He took an active part in the creation and activities of the Trinity-Kyakhta branch of the Amur department of the Russian Geographical Society. Talko-Grynchevich's range of interests was extremely wide: anthropological, archaeological, historical, geographical, biological, ethnographic and medical problems, as well as issues of organizing public education and health care. In Kyakhta, the scientist organized a museum, a scientific library, and a weather station.