August 15 is the National Day of the Republic of Tuva. Tourists come to Tuva to experience the ethnic cuisine, arts and crafts, throat singing, khuresh (a kind of national fighting), horse-racing, a unique combination of shaman traditions and Buddhism, and the lifestyle of Russian Old Believers.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankAugust 15 is the National Day of the Republic of Tuva. Tourists come to Tuva to experience the ethnic cuisine, arts and crafts, throat singing, khuresh (a kind of national fighting), horse-racing, a unique combination of shaman traditions and Buddhism, and the lifestyle of Russian Old Believers.
August 15 is the National Day of the Republic of Tuva. Tourists come to Tuva to experience the ethnic cuisine, arts and crafts, throat singing, khuresh (a kind of national fighting), horse-racing, a unique combination of shaman traditions and Buddhism, and the lifestyle of Russian Old Believers.
© RIA Novosti . P. Zubkov / Go to the mediabankTuva’s relatively small territory is home to every kind of natural environment on earth, except for savanna and rainforest.
Tuva’s relatively small territory is home to every kind of natural environment on earth, except for savanna and rainforest.
© Dmitriy Stepanov Horse breeding is one of the main occupations of Tuva residents.
Horse breeding is one of the main occupations of Tuva residents.
© vassilis galanos The traditional occupation of people living on the Tuvan steppe is the breeding of domestic animals, such as goats, horses and cows.
The traditional occupation of people living on the Tuvan steppe is the breeding of domestic animals, such as goats, horses and cows.
© Flickr / vassilis galanos Tuva is an interchange of mountain ridges and basins.
Tuva is an interchange of mountain ridges and basins.
© Flickr / vassilis galanos The population of Tuva is 310,460 people, with 1.84 people per square kilometer.
The population of Tuva is 310,460 people, with 1.84 people per square kilometer.
© Flickr / Trina Isakson Tuvan traditional culture is nomadic.
Tuvan traditional culture is nomadic.
© Flickr / vassilis galanos Tere-Khol is a lake in the southwest of Tuva. Tuvan mineral springs and lakes possess healing qualities.
Tere-Khol is a lake in the southwest of Tuva. Tuvan mineral springs and lakes possess healing qualities.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankTuva’s Aldyn Bulak ethnocultural complex. Once, this small valley was home to the Khan’s quarters; nowadays, tourists can see inside yurts – traditional Tuvan dwellings – and take throat singing lessons.
Tuva’s Aldyn Bulak ethnocultural complex. Once, this small valley was home to the Khan’s quarters; nowadays, tourists can see inside yurts – traditional Tuvan dwellings – and take throat singing lessons.
© Flickr / vassilis galanos Mountains occupy 80 percent of Tuva’s entire territory; flat steppes account for the rest.
Mountains occupy 80 percent of Tuva’s entire territory; flat steppes account for the rest.
© Flickr / Zachary Collier The Ka Khem River, also known as the Maly Yenisei. In Tuvan, it means “small river.”
The Ka Khem River, also known as the Maly Yenisei. In Tuvan, it means “small river.”
© Flickr / Zachary Collier Ka Khem is a mountain river, punctuated by rapids along its length.
Ka Khem is a mountain river, punctuated by rapids along its length.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankNaadym, a folk celebration for animal breeders, was made an official holiday in 2013. On this day, outstanding herders and horse wranglers receive awards.
Naadym, a folk celebration for animal breeders, was made an official holiday in 2013. On this day, outstanding herders and horse wranglers receive awards.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankA view of the M-54 federal highway in the Pii-Khem district of Tuva.
A view of the M-54 federal highway in the Pii-Khem district of Tuva.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Kryazhev / Go to the mediabankA place named Kara Sug in the Pii Khem district of Tuva.
A place named Kara Sug in the Pii Khem district of Tuva.