Tannu Tuva

Tannu Tuva, now known as the Tyva Republic, is a region in south-central Siberia, Russia, bordering Mongolia. It occupies the basin of the upper Yenisey River, surrounded by mountain ranges like the Altai and Tannu-Ola mountains.1

Historically, Tannu Tuva was part of the Chinese empire before tsarist Russia took it under protection in 1914. It declared independence in 1921 as the Tannu Tuva People's Republic. In 1944, it was annexed by the Soviet Union and later became an autonomous republic within Russia. The region's climate is sharply continental, with dry steppes, coniferous forests, and alpine meadows. The primary occupations are sheep herding and cattle raising, with industries including food processing and mining.1