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Kyzyl
is a city in Russia, capital of the Tuva Republic. The name of the city means
"red" in Tuvan (as well as in many other Turkic languages).
Kyzyl claims
to be located exactly in the geographical center of
Asia
(coordinates 51°44′N, 94°26′E). Whether these coordinates are in fact the center
of Asia is disputed. However, there is a monument labelled "Centre of Asia" in
English, Russian, and Tuvan which asserts this claim.
Kyzyl is
situated on the Yenisei River. Most development is south of the river and follow
the curves of the river, with the highest development centered where the two
headstreams of the Yenisei, the Bolshoi Yenisei and the Malyy Yenisei, meet. A
monument was built in 1964 on the river bank to mark this.
Buildings of
cultural and political importance in Kyzyl include the Tuvan Parliament
building, the National Theater, and a Khoomei center (officially, the
International Scientific Center "Khoomei") dedicated to studying and teaching
khoomei, Tuvan throatsinging.
Kyzyl was
founded in 1914 as Belotsarsk (Áåëîöà́ðñê).
In 1918 the town was renamed Khem-Beldyr (Õåì-Áåëäû́ð)
and in 1926 renamed Kyzyl.
In September
2004 Kyzyl celebrated its 90th anniversary as a city and the 60th anniversary of
Tuva joining the Soviet Union.
In the late
1980s, Kyzyl was visited by Ralph Leighton, who had made it a quest to reach
Tuva with his friend, the Nobel prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman. Though
Feynman died before they reached Tuva, the journey is chronicled in Tuva or
Bust!.
Inspired by
Feynman's quest and the desire of a blind blues performer, Paul Pena, who
learned Tuvan throat singing by listening to his shortwave radio, to compete in
the Tuvan throat singing competition. A film was also made of this pilgrimage.
It was titled Genghis Blues.
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