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Tyva, also spelled Tuva, republic in south-central Siberia, Russia. Tyva borders northwestern Mongolia and occupies the basin of the upper Yenisey River.
Andrei Shapran
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The climate is generally of the dry, sharply continental type, with severe winters and warm summers. Vegetation ranges from dry steppe in the basins to dense coniferous forests to alpine meadows that are succeeded by bare rock and snow at the highest elevations.
Andrei Shapran
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Its capital is the city of Kyzyl. It is not difficult to lose your purse or camera in Kyzyl. It is similar in that respect to any European city, full of immigrants and rubber-necking tourists. However, at a police station in western Germany, for example, you are unlikely to stumble across shamans whiling away their time, as they stand in line, telling fortunes with ritualistic stones.
Andrei Shapran
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In September 2012, Kyzyl celebrated its 98th anniversary as a city.
Andrei Shapran
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During the celebration of Naadym, people come to Tyva from the remotest corners of the planet, although any settlement beyond the borders of this republic is considered remote: Kyzyl is the geographical center of Asia.
Andrei Shapran
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A kilometers-long line of chubby, sun-baked fighters with bare bellies tied with thick twine stands in anticipation of Devigi, a dance in honor of the symbol of agility and strength — the sacred eagle. Women are not allowed to participate, for which reason it is traditional to compete with open torso and chest.
Andrei Shapran
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Gold-tipped felt hats, sky-blue pants with white pearl beads, red sleeves joined at the back by a small piece of cloth, and soft boots — these are the traditional clothes of Tyva’s Khuresh wrestlers. For the sake of tourists, it is known as "Khuresh wrestling."
Andrei Shapran
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Foreigners come to Tyva for its distinctive culture: "I'm here for the second year in a row," says Charles from France. "I like the local culture: throat singing, Buddhists, shamans. It's like a cross between Tibet and Russia, but actually something totally unique..."
Andrei Shapran
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Tannu Tuva was part of the Chinese empire from 1757 until 1911, when tsarist Russia fomented a separatist movement and in 1914 took the country under its protection.
Andrei Shapran
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In 1921 independence was proclaimed for the Tuva People’s Republic, but in 1944 it was annexed by the Soviet Union and made an autonomous oblast (region) of the Russian S.F.S.R. In 1961 its status was raised to that of an autonomous republic.
Andrei Shapran
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There is no shortage of tasty food in Kyzyl. Tyvans eat a lot of meat, so vegetarians might find have trouble. “Araka” is milk vodka, one of the national drinks, which is definitely worth trying. The alcohol content is low at just 20%.
Andrei Shapran
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“Khan” is sheep offal cooked in a pot with added onion. Tyvans' favorite drink is green tea, which they make in pots with added salt and milk.
Andrei Shapran
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Tyva is an agricultural region, with sheep herding and cattle raising the main occupations.
Andrei Shapran
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Wool, meat, and animal furs are important products.
Andrei Shapran
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The Fauna is presented by 72 types of animals, 240 kinds of birds and 7 kinds of reptiles. One can see such sharp contrasts here as people breeding reindeers in the north east of the Republic and camels in the south. Tuvinians are breed reindeers and hunt for fur (fox, ermine, sable, squirrel, otter, lynx).
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Industries include food processing, leather making, woodworking, and the manufacture of building materials, but mining, especially of cobalt and asbestos, is the most developed.
Andrei Shapran
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Until today the main part of the population is living their traditional way of life. That is basically nomadic cattle-breeding. In the West people raise cattle for meat and horses.
Andrei Shapran
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For traditional nomadic people, the horse is not only a means of transport during the grazing season and migrations, and a source of meat, pelt, and horsehair.
Andrei Shapran
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Tyvans also rest, sleep, eat and drink on horseback — a nomad can be in the saddle from dawn till dusk, his feet never touching the ground. Incidentally, a saddle is not compulsory: many Tyvans prefer to ride bareback.
Andrei Shapran
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A nomad’s horse accompanies him from the cradle to the grave, and in some villages Tyvans still bury the deceased together with his horse — so that he has something to ride in the next world.
Andrei Shapran
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High mountain ranges, including the Eastern Sayan and Western Sayan mountains to the north, enclose the basins. A continuous series of ranges also enclose the republic on the west, south, and southeast: the Altai, Tannu-Ola, and Sangilen mountains. The highest point is Mount Munku-Taiga (Mongun-Taiga; 13,044 feet [3,976 m]) in the extreme southwest.
Andrei Shapran
![High mountain ranges, including the Eastern Sayan and Western Sayan mountains to the north, enclose the basins. A continuous series of ranges also enclose the republic on the west, south, and southeast: the Altai, Tannu-Ola, and Sangilen mountains. The highest point is Mount Munku-Taiga (Mongun-Taiga; 13,044 feet [3,976 m]) in the extreme southwest.](http://nl.media.rbth.ru/all/2012/1012/galleries/19713/.thumb116X76_20.jpg)
