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Tuva

The Tuva Republic is a federal subject Federal subjects of Russia

Russia [i] is a federation [i] which consists of 88 subjects}}; English transliteration [i] ... 

 of Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

 . The direct transliteration of the Russian name of the republic is Respublika Tyva . Although the republic's official English name has been Tyva Republic since 1993, it remains more commonly known as Tuva.

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Encyclopedia

The Tuva Republic is a federal subject Federal subjects of Russia

Russia [i] is a federation [i] which consists of 88 subjects}}; English transliteration [i] ... 

 of Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

 . The direct transliteration of the Russian name of the republic is Respublika Tyva . Although the republic's official English name has been Tyva Republic since 1993, it remains more commonly known as Tuva.

Geography

The Republic is located in extreme southern Siberia Siberia

Siberia is a vast region of Russia [i] constituting almost all of Northern Asia [i]. ... 

, the Capital Kyzyl Kyzyl

Kyzyl is a city in Russia [i], capital of the Tuva Republic [i]. ... 

 is located at the geographic Center of Asia. The eastern part of the republic is forested and elevated, and the west is a drier lowland.
  • Area: 170,500 km²
  • Borders:
    • internal: Khakassia Khakassia

      Khakassia or Khakasiya is a federal subject [i] of Russia [i] located i ... 

       , Krasnoyarsk Krai Krasnoyarsk Krai

      Krasnoyarsk Krai is a federal subject [i] of Russia [i]. ... 

       , Irkutsk Oblast Irkutsk Oblast

      Irkutsk Oblast is a federal subject [i] of Russia [i], located in south-easte ... 

       , Buryatia Buryatia

      The Buryat Republic is a federal subject [i] of the Russian Federation [i]. ... 

       , Altai Republic Altai Republic

      The Altai Republic is a federal subject [i] of Russia [i]. ... 

    • international: Mongolia Mongolia

      Mongolia is a landlocked [i] country [i] located in East Asia [i]. ... 

  • Maximum N->S distance: 450 km.
  • Maximum E->W distance: over 700 km.

Time zone


Tuva is located in the Krasnoyarsk Time Zone Krasnoyarsk Time

Krasnoyarsk Time is the time zone [i] 7 hours ahead of UTC [i] and 4 hours ahead of Moscow Time [i]. ... 

 . UTC Coordinated Universal Time


Coordinated Universal Time is a high-precision atomic [i] time standard [i].... 

 offset is +0700 /+0800 .

Rivers

There are over 8,000 rivers in the republic. The area includes the upper course of the Yenisei River Yenisei River

The Yenisei is the greatest river [i] system flowing to the Arctic Ocean [i], and the fifth longest riv ... 

. Most of the republic's rivers are Yenisei tributaries. There are also numerous mineral spring Spring (hydrosphere)

A spring is a point where groundwater [i] flows out of the ground, and is thus where the aquifer [i] sur ... 

s in the republic.

Major rivers include:
  • Bolshoy Yenisei River
  • Kantegir River
  • Khemchik River
  • Maly Yenisei River
  • Upper Yenisei River

Lakes

There are numerous lakes on the republic's territory, many of which are glacial and salt lakes. Major lakes include:
  • Todzha Lake, a.k.a. Azas Lake —the largest in the republic
  • Uvs Nuur Uvs Nuur

    Uvs Nuur Lake is the largest lake in Mongolia [i], which, at 753 m above sea level, covers an area ... 

     - shared with Mongolia and a World Heritage Site World Heritage Site

    A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on ... 

  • Kadysh Lake
  • Many-Khol Lake

Mountains

The area of the republic is a mountain basin, ca. 600 m high, encircled by the Sayan and Tannu-Ola ranges. Mountains cover over 80% of the republic's territory. Mount Mongun-Tayga  is the highest point in Siberia.

Natural resources

Major natural resources of Tuva include coal Coal

Coal is a fossil fuel [i] extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining . ... 

, iron ore, gold Gold

Gold is a highly sought-after precious metal [i] that for many centuries has been used as money [i], a store of value [i] ... 

, and more.

Climate


  • Average January temperature: -32°C
  • Average July temperature: +18°C
  • Average annual precipitation: 150 mm to 1,000 mm

Administrative divisions


Demographics



According to the 2002 Census, Tuvans, a group of Turkic people Turkic peoples

Turkic peoples are Northern and Central Eurasian [i] peoples who speak languages belonging to th ... 

, at 235,313 make up 77.0% of the republic's population. Other groups include Russians Russians

Russians are an East Slavic [i] ethnic group [i], primarily living in Russia [i] and neighbo ... 

 , Komi , and a host of smaller groups, each accounting for less than 0.5% of the total population.

Official languages are Tuvan and Russian Russian language

Russian is the most widely spoken language of Eurasia [i] and the most widespread of the Slavic languages [i] ... 

.
  • Population: 305,510
    • Urban: 157,299
    • Rural: 148,211
    • Male: 144,961
    • Female: 160,549
  • Females per 1000 males: 1,108
  • Average age: 25.5 years
    • Urban: 26.4 years
    • Rural: 24.5 years
    • Male: 25.2 years
    • Female: 27.6 years
  • Number of households: 82,882
    • Urban: 47,073
    • Rural: 35,809

History

The historic region of Tannu Uriankhai , which Tuva is part of, was controlled by the Mongols Mongols

Mongols are an ethnic group [i] that originated in what is now Mongolia [i], Russia [i], and China [i] ... 

 from the 13th 13th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 13th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

  to 18th 18th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 18th century refers to the century [i] that las ... 

 centuries. It established itself as a khanate Khan

Khan is a title with many meanings, originally commander, leader or ruler, in Mongolian [i]... 

 in the 15th century 15th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 15th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

 until 1757 when it was brought under Chinese Manchu Qing Dynasty

The Qing Dynasty , occasionally known as the Manchu Dynasty, was a dynasty [i] fou ... 

 rule to 1911.

During the 19th century 19th century

The 19th century lasted from 1801 [i] through 1900 [i] in the Gregorian calendar [i].
... 

 Russians Russians

Russians are an East Slavic [i] ethnic group [i], primarily living in Russia [i] and neighbo ... 

 began to settle in Tuva, resulting in an 1860 Chinese-Russian treaty, in which China allowed Russians to settle providing that they lived in boats or tents. In 1881 Russians were allowed to live in permanent buildings. By that time a sizeable Russian community had been established, whose affairs were managed by an official in Russia . Russian interests in Tuva continued into the 20th century 20th century

The 20th century started on 1 January [i] 1901 [i] and ended on 31 December [i] 2000 [i], according to t... 

.

During the 1911 revolution Wuchang Uprising

The Wuchang Uprising of October 10 [i] 1911 [i], started the Xinhai Revolution [i], which triggered the ... 

 in China, tsar Tsar

Tsar , occasionally spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English [i] ... 

ist Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

 formed a separatist movement among the Tuvans. Tsar Nicholas II Nicholas II of Russia

Nicholas II of Russia was the last Emperor of Russia [i], King of Poland [i], and Grand Duke of Finland [i] ... 

 ordered Russian troops into Tuva in 1912, as Russian settlers were being attacked. Tuva became nominally independent as Urjanchai Republic before being brought under Russian protectorate as Uryanay Kray under Tsar Nicholas II on 17 April 1914. This move was apparently requested by a number of prominent Tuvans, including the High Lama, although it is possible they were actually acting under the coercion of Russian soldiers. A Tuvan capital was established, called Belotsarsk Kyzyl

Kyzyl is a city in Russia [i], capital of the Tuva Republic [i]. ... 

 . Meanwhile, in 1911, Mongolia became independent, though under Russian protection.

Following the Russian Revolution of 1917 Russian Revolution of 1917

The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a series of political events in Russia [i], which, after the eliminat ... 

 which ended the imperial autocracy, most of Tuva was occupied from 5 July 1918 to 15 July 1919 by Kolchak's Aleksandr Kolchak

Aleksandr Vasiliyevich Kolchak was a Russia [i]n naval commander and later head of part of the anti-Bolshevik [i] ... 

 "White" Russian troops , though in the autumn of 1918 the south-western part was occupied by Chinese troops, the southern part by Mongol troops led by Khatan Bator Maksarzhab.

From July 1919 to February 1920 the communist Red Army Red Army

The short forms Red Army and RKKA refer to the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, , the armed ... 

 enters Tuva, but from 19 February 1920 to June 1921 it was once more re-incorporated into China . On August 14, 1921 the Bolshevik Bolshevik

Bolsheviks were members of the Bolshevik faction of the Marxist [i] Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party [i]... 

s established a Tuvinian People's Republic Tuvinian People's Republic

The Tuvinian People's Republic was a state in the territory of the former Tuva [i]n protectorate [i] of ... 

, popularly called Tannu-Tuva. In 1926, the capital was renamed Kyzyl Kyzyl

Kyzyl is a city in Russia [i], capital of the Tuva Republic [i]. ... 

, meaning "Red"). Tuva was de jure an independent state between the World Wars.

The state's first ruler, Prime Minister Donduk, sought to strengthen ties with Mongolia and establish Buddhism as the state religion. This unsettled the Kremlin, which orchestrated a coup carried out in 1929 by five young Tuvan graduates of Moscow's 'Communist University of the Toilers of the East'. In 1930 the pro-Soviet region discarded the state's Tibetan-Mongol script in favor of a Latin alphabet designed for Tuva by Russian linguists, and in 1943 Cyrillic script replaced the Latin. Under the leadership of Party Secretary Toka, ethnic Russians were granted full citizenship rights and Buddhist and Mongol influences on the Tuvan state and society were systematically reduced.

The USSR Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 annexed Tuva outright in 1944, apparently with the approval of Tuva's Little Khural , though there was no Tuva-wide vote on the issue. The exact circumstances surrounding Tannu-Tuva's incorporation into the USSR in 1944 remain obscure. Salchak Toka, the leader of Tuvan communists, was given the title of First Secretary of the Tuvan Communist Party and became a de-facto ruler of Tuva. Tuva was made the Tuvan Autonomous Oblast Tuvan Autonomous Oblast

Tuvan Autonomous Oblast was created 1944-10-11 [i] by annexion of Tuvinian People's Republic [i]. ... 

 and then became the Tuva ASSR on October 10, 1961. Toka's rule was characterized by a concerted effort to introduce collectivism and to destroy Tuvan culture, especially that of a religious nature. Salchak Toka died in 1973.

In February of 1990, the Tuvan Democratic Movement was founded by Kaadyr-ool Bicheldei, a philologist at Kyzyl University. The party aimed to provide jobs and housing , and also to improve the status of Tuvan language and culture. Later on in the year there was a wave of attacks against Tuva's sizeable Russian community, resulting in 88 deaths. Russian troops eventually were called in. Many Russians moved out of the republic during this period.

Tuva was a signatory to the March 31, 1992 treaty that created the Russian Federation. A new constitution for the republic was drawn up on October 22, 1993. This created a 32-member parliament and a Grand Khural, which is responsible for foreign policy, ensuring that Tuvan law is given precedence and any possible changes to the constitution. The constitution also allowed for a referendum if Tyva ever sought independence. This constitution was passed by 62.2% of Tuvans in a referendum on December 12, 1993. At the same time the official name was changed from Tuva to Tyva .

The Republic of China Republic of China

The Republic of China is a country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 has never officially recognized the Russian claim, and maps made in Taiwan Taiwan

Taiwan is an island in East Asia [i], but the term "Taiwan" is also commonly used to collectively refer ... 

 have often included Tuva as part of China. This claim, along with the Taiwanese claim to mainland China Mainland China

Mainland China is term which is usually synonymous with the area currently administered by the People's Republic of China [i] ... 

, has been largely ignored since the early 1990s 1990s

The 1990s [i] decade [i] refers to the years from 1990 [i] to 1999 [i], inclusive, sometimes informally ... 

.

Politics

The head of the government in Tuva is the Chairman of the Government, who is elected for a four-year term. As of 2005 2005

2005 was a common year starting on Saturday [i] of the Gregorian calendar [i].
... 

, the Chairman of the Government is Sherig-ool Oorzhak, who was re-elected on March 17, 2002. Tuva's legislature Legislature

A legislature is a type of representative deliberative assembly [i] with the power to adopt law [i]s. ... 

, the Grand Khural, has 162 seats; each deputy is elected to serve a four-year term.

The republic's Constitution was adopted on October 23, 1993.

Economy

Tuva has a developed mining industry . Food processing, timber, and metal working industries are also well-developed. Most of the industrial production is concentrated in the capital Kyzyl and in Ak-Dovurak.

Culture

Tuvans are famous for their throat singing Overtone singing

Overtone singing, also known as overtone chanting, harmonic singing, or harmonic chant... 

.

Khuresh Khuresh

Khuresh is a traditional form of wrestling [i] in Tuva [i], Siberia [i].In Turkish Gres
... 

, the Tuvan form of wrestling, is a very popular sport. Competitions are held at the annual Naadym Naadam

Naadam is the national festival of Mongolia [i] held from July 11th to 13th.... 

 festival at Tos-Bulak Tos-Bulak

Tos-Bulak is the name of an area of open fields and a mineral spring situated at , some 9 km south of Kyzyl [i]... 

.

Sainkho Namtchylak Sainkho Namtchylak

Sainkho Namtchylak is a singer originally from Tuva [i], a small autonomous Russian republic just north ... 

 is one of the only singers from Tuva to have an international following. She is also very involved with Tuvan culture. Every year she invites western musicians to perform in Kyzyl and to learn about the country, its culture and its music. In recent years, however, Kongar-ool Ondar Kongar-ool Ondar

Kongar-ool Ondar is a master Tuva [i]n throatsinger [i] and a member of the Tuvan Parliam ... 

 has become well-known in the West as well, in large part because of the film Genghis Blues Genghis Blues

External links


[i]
... 

 featuring Ondar and American blues Blues

Blues music redirects here. For other uses, see Blues [i] and Blues music [i]
... 

 singer Paul Pena Paul Pena

Paul Pena was a multi-genre [i] singer [i], songwriter [i], pianist [i], and guitarist [i], who performe ... 

.

Galsan Tschinag Galsan Tschinag

Galsan Tschinag, born Irgit Schynykbai-oglu Dshurukuwaa, is internationally known as a writer of nov... 

 is an award winning author of Tuvan descent who writes poetry and essays. He is best known in the german-speaking world, but he has published some works in English as well.

Oral traditions


Tuvans have a rich tradition of orally transmitted folklore, including many genres, ranging from very brief riddles and aphorisms, to tongue twisters, magical tales, hero tales, scary stories, and epics that would take many hours to recite. A few examples and excerpts of the epic genres, such as "Boktu-Kirish, Bora-Sheelei" have been published. This art form is now endangered as the traditional tale-tellers grow old and are not replaced by younger practitioners.

Religion

Three religions are widespread among the people of Tuva: Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism is the body of religious Buddhist [i] doctrine and institutions characteristic ... 

, Orthodox Christianity and shamanism Shamanism

Shamanism refers to a range of traditional beliefs and practices similar to Animism [i] that claim the ... 

. Buddhism's present-day spiritual leader is the 14th Dalai Lama Dalai Lama

In Tibetan Buddhism [i], the successive Dalai Lamas form a tulku [i] lineage of Gelugpa [i] leaders whi... 

.
In September 1992, the 14th Dalai Lama Dalai Lama

In Tibetan Buddhism [i], the successive Dalai Lamas form a tulku [i] lineage of Gelugpa [i] leaders whi... 

 visited Tuva for 3 days.
The people are mainly adherents to Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism is the body of religious Buddhist [i] doctrine and institutions characteristic ... 

, combined with native Shamanism Shamanism

Shamanism refers to a range of traditional beliefs and practices similar to Animism [i] that claim the ... 

.
During the 16th and 17th centuries Tibetan Buddhism gained increasing popularity in Tuva.
Religious practice declined under the restrictive policies of the Soviet period but revived somewhat in the early 1990s. Tuva is also the only country in the world to have shamanism as an official religion.
The Tuvans' higher than average syphilis Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection [i] caused by a spirochaete [i] bacterium [i], Treponema pallidum [i] ... 

 infection rate has been blamed on a Shamanist tradition of the Republic, which says a woman is more fertile if she has had a large number of sexual partners before marriage.
Some human rights Human rights

Human rights refers to the concept of human beings [i] as having universal rights [i], or status, regard ... 

 groups report problems with religious freedom for Christians and Muslims Muslim

A Muslim is an adherent of Islam [i]. ... 

.

Education

The most important facilities of higher education include the
Tuvan State University and the Tuvan Institute of Humanitarian Research, both located in the capital Kyzyl.

Miscellaneous


  • In the 1920s 1920s

    The 1920s was a decade [i] sometimes referred to as the "Jazz Age [i]" or the "Roaring Twenties [i]," us ... 

     and 1930s 1930s

    ... 

    , postage stamp Postage stamp

    postage stamp is evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal [i] services. ... 

    s from Tuva were issued. Many philatelists Philately

    Philately is the study of revenue [i] or postage stamp [i]s. ... 

    , including famous physicist Physics

    Physics , the most fundamental physical science [i], is concerned with the underlying principles of the ... 

     Richard Feynman Richard Feynman

    Richard Phillips Feynman was an influential American [i] physicist [i] known for expandi... 

    , have been fascinated with the far-away and obscure land of Tuva because of these stamps. The stamps were issued mainly during the brief period of Tuvan independence, and had many philatelists in a furor, as they did not conform to various standards. Feynman's efforts to reach Tuva are chronicled in the book Tuva or Bust.
  • Tuva was featured prominently in the award-winning documentary Genghis Blues Genghis Blues

    External links


[i]
... 

.
  • Tuvan stamps are mentioned in a line of Gregory Corso's Gregory Corso

    Gregory Nunzio Corso was an American [i] poet [i], the fourth member of the canon of Beat Generation [i] ... 

     poem Marriage.
  • Sergey Shoygu Sergei Shoigu

    Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu is a Russia [i]n political figure [i].

... 

, Russia's Emergencies minister, is Tuvan.
  • According to a recent study by Ilya Zakharov, deputy director of Moscow's Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Tuvans are more closely genetically linked to Native American peoples like the Eskimo Eskimo

    Eskimos, or Esquimaux, are terms used to refer to people [i] who inhabit the circumpolar [i] regio ... 

    , Navajo Navajo Nation

    The Navajo Nation is a sovereign [i] Native American [i] ... 

     and Apache Apache

    Apache is the collective name for several culturally [i] related groups of Native Americans [i] ... 

     than any other group.

See also

  • Tuvans
  • List of Tuvans
  • Tuvinian People's Republic Tuvinian People's Republic

    The Tuvinian People's Republic was a state in the territory of the former Tuva [i]n protectorate [i] of ... 

  • Music of Tuva
  • Khoomei Overtone singing

    Overtone singing, also known as overtone chanting,
    harmonic singing, or harmonic chant... 

  • Genghis Blues Genghis Blues

    External links


[i]
... 

 documentary about Tuva and Tuvan throat singing

Sources and External links

  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .


  • .
  • A traditional Tuvan boardgame.



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