Kyzyl

Kyzyl
Name	Kyzyl
Native name	Кызыл
Settlement type	City
Coordinates	51, 43, N, 94...
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Russia
Subdivision type1	Federal subject
Subdivision name1	Tuva
Established title	Founded
Established date	1914
Government type	City Council
Leader title	Head
Leader name	Karim Bailak-ool
Area total km2	97.41
Elevation m	630
Population total	116015
Population as of	2010 Census
Population density km2	auto
Postal code type	Postal code(s)
Postal code	667001–667011
Area code	+7 39422
Website	http://www.mkyzyl.ru
Timezone	Krasnoyarsk Time

Kyzyl. It is the capital city of the Tuva Republic in the Russian Federation, situated at the geographic confluence of the Great Yenisey and Little Yenisey rivers, which form the Yenisey River. Founded in 1914 as Belotsarsk, the city has been a political and cultural hub for the Tuvan people, experiencing significant transformations under the Tuvan People's Republic and later incorporation into the Soviet Union. Known for its distinctive Central Asian culture and as the proclaimed "Center of Asia," it hosts important institutions like the National Museum of the Tuva Republic and the Tuvan State University.

History

The site was historically part of the territory of the Uriankhai, later coming under the influence of the Qing dynasty. The settlement was established in 1914 by Russian settlers and named Belotsarsk (White Tsar's Town). Following the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the collapse of Chinese rule in Mongolia, the area became the center of the independent Tuvan People's Republic in 1921, with the city renamed Khem-Beldir and then, in 1926, receiving its current name. The republic was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1944, becoming an autonomous oblast within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Throughout the Soviet era, the city developed industrially and saw the establishment of key cultural and educational institutions, navigating periods of Russification while preserving core Tuvan traditions. In the post-Soviet period, it has been the seat of government for the Tuva Republic within the modern Russian Federation.

Geography

The city is located in southern Siberia, at an elevation of approximately 630 meters, in the expansive Tuva Basin. It lies at the precise confluence of the Bii-Khem (Great Yenisey) and Kaa-Khem (Little Yenisey), which merge to form the Ulug-Khem, the upper reaches of the mighty Yenisey River that flows north to the Kara Sea. The surrounding landscape is characterized by steppe and is bordered by the Sayan Mountains to the north and the Tannu-Ola Mountains to the south. The climate is sharply continental, with very cold, dry winters and warm summers, typical of central Asia.

Demographics

According to the Russian Census (2010), the population was over 116,000. The city is the most populous in the republic and serves as its primary demographic center. The ethnic composition is predominantly Tuvans, with significant minorities of Russians and smaller communities of other groups. The predominant religions are Tibetan Buddhism and Tengrism, with a minority of Russian Orthodox adherents. The Tuvan language, part of the Turkic language family, shares official status with Russian in the republic.

Culture

Kyzyl is the epicenter of Tuvan national culture, renowned globally for the art of Tuvan throat singing (khoomei), performed by masters such as those from the ensemble Huun-Huur-Tu. Key cultural institutions include the National Museum of the Tuva Republic, which houses the famous Scythian gold collection from the Arzhan burial mounds, and the Tuvan National Orchestra. The city is famous for its "Center of Asia" monument, and hosts annual festivals like the Naadym. Traditional shamanism remains a vital part of the local spiritual landscape alongside institutionalized Buddhism.

Economy

The city's economy is primarily administrative and cultural, housing the government of the Tuva Republic and its ministries. Light industry and food processing are present, alongside enterprises focused on local agriculture and mining support. The city serves as a commercial hub for the republic's key economic sectors, which include mining of resources like coal and cobalt, and animal husbandry (raising yaks, sheep, and camels). The presence of Tuvan State University and research institutes related to the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences contributes to the service sector.

Transport

Kyzyl is connected by the federal highway A162 to the town of Ak-Dovurak and to Abakan in Khakassia, which links to the Trans-Siberian Railway. The city is served by Kyzyl Airport, offering regular flights to Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk. Internal transport consists of a network of city buses. Due to its remote location, river transport on the Yenisey is not significant for passenger travel, though the rivers are used locally.

Category:Capitals in Russia Category:Cities and towns in Tuva