The town has road and water links with Abakan and Minusinsk. The town itself is located in the steppe zone.
Climate
Moderately sharp continental climate.
Annual precipitation: 250–300 mm. Fall mainly in the warm period.
Average temperature in July: +28.6 °C (83.5 °F)
Average temperature in January: −27.0 °C (−16.6 °F)
Vegetation period: 160 days.
Despite being a small town, Sayanogorsk is located near to the Khakas Aluminium Smelter, one of the largest aluminum smelter plants in the world. The aluminum plant provides work for the majority of the town's residents.[8]Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam, the largest hydro-electric dam in Russia and the world's 5th-largest by installed capacity, lies to the south of the town.
Culture
Education
The town has ten schools, a subsidiary of KSU, a subsidiary of TUSUR, Stam, www.wtu.ru, Sayanogorsk Polytechnic College, South-Siberian Regional College.
Media
Television
In Sayanogorsk there is one local channel TV-7, on which there are broadcasts are on TV channel STS (TV Channel).
Newspapers
Sayanogorsk publishes many periodicals some are "Environment", "Sayanogorsk Courier", "Sayan statements", and "Business Sayanogorsk.
Sports
The volleyball club "Borus" is based in Sayanogorsk.
The main industrial enterprises of the town are:
Sayan Aluminum Plant - has Production of primary aluminum and alloys on its basis
Khakas aluminum plant - has production of primary aluminum and alloys on its basis,
Plant Rusal SAYANAL - has production of aluminum foil and packing materials on its basis,
Company Stroyservice
Company Sayanstroy
Plant Sayanmoloko
and
JSC Branch Temporary Use - has the enterprise of industrial railway transport. The town is economically dependent on the Rusal-operated aluminum plant.[8]
Energy
Sayano-Shushenskaya GES (starting the second hydraulic unit 1-December 18, 1978),
Mainsk HPS.
Верховный Совет Республики Хакасия. Закон №20 от 5 мая 2004 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Республики Хакасия», в ред. Закона №54-ЗРХ от 10 июня 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Республики Хакасия "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Республики Хакасия"». Вступил в силу по истечении 10 дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Вестник Хакасии", №22, 12 мая 2004 г. (Supreme Council of the Republic of Khakassia. Law #20 of May 5, 2004 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of the Republic of Khakassia, as amended by the Law #54-ZRKh of June 10, 2015 On Amending the Law of the Republic of Khakassia "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of the Republic of Khakassia". Effective as of the day which is 10 days after the official publication date.).
Верховный Совет Республики Хакасия. Закон №64 от 7 октября 2004 г. «Об утверждении границ муниципального образования город Саяногорск и наделении его статусом городского округа», в ред. Закона №51-ЗРХ от 10 июня 2014 г. «О внесении изменения в Закон Республики Хакасия "Об утверждении границ муниципального образования город Саяногорск и наделении его статусом городского округа"». Вступил в силу с 1 января 2005 г. Опубликован: "Вестник Хакасии", №48, 15 октября 2004 г. (Supreme Council of the Republic of Khakassia. Law #64 of October 7, 2004 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formation of the Town of Sayanogorsk and on Granting It Urban Okrug Status, as amended by the Law #51-ZRKh of June 10, 2014 On Amending the Law of the Republic of Khakassia "On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formation of the Town of Sayanogorsk and on Granting It Urban Okrug Status". Effective as of January 1, 2005.).