The Irtysh River is a unique hydrological object that has attracted peoples since ancient times. Having become the most important transportation artery, the Irtysh River predetermined the development of peoples and the formation of their unique culture. Numerous Paleolithic monuments have been found on the territory of Priitysh. The creation of transportation routes and human migration along the Irtysh in the Early Iron Age contributed to the development of the Kulai cultural-historical community, which became part of the emerging Ugric world. Further migration, which intensified in the New Age, formed a multinational and multiconfessional society living along the Irtysh. Today the multicultural space, despite the development of industry, continues to retain its cultural characteristics, which helps to attract researchers and tourists. The text outlines the process of development of the multicultural community along the Irtysh River, which retains its scientific and tourist exclusivity.