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Tourist Map (44KB); Russia Destinations (main page)
Kyzyl city is the capital of Tuva Republic (Russia) located at the confluence of two major tributaries of the Yenisei and Bii-Khem rivers. Founded in 1914, it first called Belotsarsk until 1917 and Khem-Beldyr until 1926. According to geographers, Kyzyl city is positioned right in the center of Asia, which is proudly claimed by a local monument specifically dedicated to this fact.
With an area of 64,000 square miles, somewhat larger than England and Wales, Tuva lays just North of Mongolia. It is over 80% mountainous, the highest point being Mongyn Taiga, at over 15,000 feet. Major ranges include the Altai Mountains in the west, and the Sayan mountains in the east.
The ethnic composition of the Tuvan people is complex. It is comprised of several Turkic groups of Tuvan, Altai, Khakas, and Karagas peoples. Among the 300,000 inhabitants of Tuva, one quarter are nomads still living in their round tents made of felt, known as yurts. Read More about Kyzyl here...
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train from Moscow - none
