The flag was adopted on 2nd of July in 1992, in the format-ratio of 1:2. Between 1994 and 2003, the format-ratio of the flag had been officially changed to 2:3. The color white stands for religiosity and faith and the peaceful coexistence of the different peoples of the country. Blue stands for the heaven, mountains, rivers and lakes. The color blue in the flag permits inferences to the nation of the Altaians, which were former called Mountain Kalmykes. The Altaians, which name themself Oirates, belong to the Turk people. Many Mongolians or even Turk people have common roots, and the colour of their race is blue.
1922 · establishing of the Autonomous District of the Oyrots
1948 · rename to Autonomous District of Gorno Altay
25th of October 1990 · foundation of the Gorno Altayian ASSR
3rd of July 1991 · rename to Gorno Altayian SSR
31st of December in 1991 · the Soviet Union dissolves, the constitution of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (RSFSR, Russia), a former substate of the Soviet Union, remains in force for the time being
May 1992 · rename to Republic Gorno Altay
12.12.1993 · rename to Republic Altay
25th of December in 1993 · a new constitution for Russia (Russian Federation) comes into force, and the relationships with the members of the federation is re-regulated in this way
The word "Altay" is of Kyrgyz origin. "Alty Ai" means in Kyrgyz "six months". Thus the Kirghiz transferred the journey time from their pasture grounds up to the Altai to a whole mountain region.
