South and Central ASIA TUVA

Tuva, officially known as the "Tyva Republic," is a geographically and, until not so long ago, culturally isolated semi-autonomous part of Russia located in south-central Siberia. The Tuvan people are of Mongol heritage and have traditionally been independent, yurt-dwelling goat, sheep and cow herders (and reindeer!), but since the 19th century when Russians began to settle there, Russian and China fought for control of Tuvan land. The Russians effectively took charge in 1911 and in 1944 subsumed Tuva into the Soviet Union, closing off Tuva from all but the most diligent stamp collectors.

When the USSR collapsed in the early '90s Tuva remained part of Russia, but Tuvans have become much more independent to follow their Buddhist, Tibetan Lamaist and Siberian shamanist religions, pursue the national cultural past-time -- THROAT SINGING! -- and make many friends around the world.