Tuva is a place in Russia.
It sits in the middle of Asia.
It has many big mountains.
There are also many rivers.
Most people there speak Tuvan.
It is a very special place.
Would you like to visit?
Tuva is a place in Russia.
It sits in southern Siberia. It is near the country of Mongolia. Some parts are high mountains.
Other parts are low and dry. The land has many rivers. There are even more than 8,000 rivers!
Most people there are Tuvan. They speak the Tuvan way of talking. They also speak Russian.
It is a very big and pretty place.
Tuva is a republic in Russia.
It sits in southern Siberia. Tuva is at the center of Asia.
To the south, it borders Mongolia. The land is very diverse. Most of the area is made of mountains.
In the east, you will see forests. The west is a dry lowland.
There are over 8,000 rivers in Tuva. One major river is the Yenisei. It is the fifth longest river in the world. You can also find many lakes. One large lake is called Azas Lake.
About 336,651 people live in Tuva. Most people are ethnic Tuvans. They speak the Tuvan language. Many people also speak Russian. Both languages are official. Many people follow Buddhism. Others follow Tengrism, which is Tuvan shamanism. The capital city is Kyzyl. More than one third of the people live there.
Tuva is a republic located in the southern part of Siberia, within Russia.
This land is very special because it sits at the geographic center of Asia.
To the south, Tuva shares an international border with the country of Mongolia. It also sits near several other Russian regions like Altai, Buryatia, and Khakassia. The landscape changes as you travel through the area. The eastern part of the republic has forests and high ground. In contrast, the western part is a drier lowland area.
The land of Tuva is mostly made of mountains and hills.
These mountains cover more than 80 percent of the whole territory. The republic is shaped like a mountain basin. It is surrounded by the Sayan and Tannu-Ola mountain ranges. The highest point in the republic is Mount Mongun-Tayga. This peak is named after its large glacier.
Water is also very important in this part of the world. There are more than 8,000 rivers flowing through the republic. Many of these are parts of the Yenisei River. The Yenisei is the fifth longest river in the world. You can also find many lakes, such as the large Azas Lake.
History shows that many different groups have controlled Tuva over time. Long ago, the Xiongnu and the Xianbei state held this land. Later, the Mongol Empire and the Yuan dynasty ruled here. From 1758 to 1911, Tuva was part of China's Qing dynasty. This period was known as the Tannu Uriankhai region. After the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, Tuva became the Uryankhay Republic. It later became a Russian protectorate in 1914. In 1921, the Tuvan People's Republic was established. This state was recognized by the Soviet Union and Mongolia. Eventually, Tuva was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1944.
Today, about 336,651 people live in the republic.
Most of the people, about 88.7 percent, are ethnic Tuvans. Ethnic Russians make up about 10.1 percent of the population. People use two official languages: Tuvan and Russian. The capital city is Kyzyl, where over one third of the people live. Many residents follow Buddhism, while about 8 percent follow Tengrism. Tengrism is also known as Tuvan shamanism. The regional parliament is called the Great Khural.
Tuva remains a remote place that can be difficult to reach. It became a part of the Russian Federation in 1992. In 1993, the republic created a new constitution. This document established a 32-member parliament called the Supreme Khural. The Grand Khural also helps with local laws. The name of the republic was changed from Tuva to Tyva at that time. Even with these changes, the culture remains strong. You might even hear the unique sounds of Tuvan throat singing there.
The Republic of Tyva is a federal subject of Russia located in southern Siberia.
This region holds a unique geographic position because it sits at the geographic center of Asia.
Geographically, Tyva is defined by its diverse terrain and its position near several other Russian federal subjects. It borders the Altai Republic, Buryatia, Irkutsk Oblast, Khakassia, and Krasnoyarsk Krai. To the south, it shares an international border with the country of Mongolia. The landscape transitions from forested, elevated terrain in the east to drier lowlands in the west.
The physical structure of Tyva is primarily a mountain basin. This basin is encircled by two major mountain ranges: the Sayan and the Tannu-Ola. Mountains and hills are dominant features, covering over 80 percent of the total territory.
The highest point in the republic is Mount Mongun-Tayga, which derives its name from its glacier. Water systems are also vital to the region's geography. There are more than 8,000 rivers in the republic, most of which are tributaries of the Yenisei River. The Yenisei is the fifth longest river in the world. Other significant rivers include the Kantegir, Khemchik, and the Maly Yenisei. The republic also contains many lakes, such as the 100 km² Azas Lake, which is also known as Todzha Lake.
History shows that many different powers have controlled Tyva over many centuries. The territory was once held by the Xiongnu and the Xianbei state. Later, the Rouran Khaganate, the Tang dynasty, and the Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate all held influence. The Mongol Empire and various Chinese dynasties, such as the Yuan and the Qing, also ruled the region. From 1758 to 1911, Tyva was part of China's Qing dynasty and was administered by Outer Mongolia. Following the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, the region broke away as the Uryankhay Republic. In 1914, it became a Russian protectorate known as Uryankhay Krai.
The political status of Tyva changed rapidly during the early 20th century. In 1921, the Tuvan People's Republic was established. This state was also known as Tannu Tuva until 1926. It was a nominally independent state recognized by the Soviet Union and Mongolia. During this era, the capital was renamed Kyzyl, which means "red" in 1926. The state's leadership, including Chairman Donduk Kuular, attempted to strengthen ties with Mongolia and establish Tibetan Buddhism. However, a coup in 1929 led to a more pro-Soviet regime. In 1943, the Cyrillic script replaced the Latin alphabet used in 1930. Finally, the Soviet Union annexed Tuva in 1944.
Today, the republic has a population of 336,651 people based on the 2021 census. The capital city is Kyzyl, which houses more than one-third of the total population. The demographics show that ethnic Tuvans make up 88.7% of the people. Ethnic Russians represent 10.1% of the population. This ethnic makeup has shifted over time; for example, the Russian population decreased by 70% between 1989 and 2021. The republic is culturally diverse, with 61.8% of the people adhering to Buddhism and 8% following Tengrism, which is also called Tuvan shamanism. Both the Tuvan and Russian languages are official and widely understood.
The late 20th century brought significant social and political changes to the region. In 1990, a group called the Khostug Tyva was founded to improve the status of Tuvan culture and language. This period also saw a wave of violence against the Russian community in 1990, resulting in 168 reported murders. This led to the deployment of OMON special police units. As the Soviet Union dissolved, many Russians moved out of the republic. In 1992, Tyva became a signatory to the treaty that created the Russian Federation. Following this, a new constitution was approved by a referendum in 1993. This constitution established the Grand Khural to handle local legislation.
Tyva remains a place of deep cultural significance within the Russian Federation. The regional government is organized through the Great Khural, which serves as the regional parliament. The republic's identity is tied to its unique traditions and its remote location. One notable cultural aspect is the practice of Tuvan throat singing.
Even as the administrative structures have changed from an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic to a modern republic, the core characteristics of the land remain. The combination of high mountains, vast river systems, and a distinct ethnic identity continues to define the Tyva Republic today.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (11)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.