Chara (Russian: Чара) is a rural locality (a selo) and the administrative center of Kalarsky District of Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia, located on the Chara River at an elevation of 710 meters (2,330 ft) above sea level.

[5] The Chara Sands, a 34 square kilometers (13 sq mi) area of active sand dunes, lies 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) southwest of Chara.

Chara has a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dwc), with long, bitterly cold winters and warm, mild summers.

Precipitation is quite low but is much higher in summer than at other times of the year.

It is served by the Chara Airport.