Kyzyl

Kyzyl or Kizil , city (1989 pop. 85,000), capital of Tuva Republic , S Siberian Russia, on the Yenisei River. It services motor transport and has brickyards, sawmills, furniture factories, and food-processing plants. Founded in 1914, the city was called Belotsarsk until 1917 and Khem-Beldyr until 1926. It has a Tuvan language, history, and literature research institute (founded in 1953) and a Buddhist temple complex.

Kyzyl Kum (Kizil Kum) Desert of central Asia, in Uzbekistan and s Kazakstan, between the Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers. Cotton and rice are grown in the irrigated river valleys and karakul sheep are raised by tribespeople. Area: c.230,000sq km (89,000sq mi).

Kyzyl Kum or Kizil Kum [Turk.,=red sand], desert, c.115,000 sq mi (297,900 sq km), in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This vast region SE of the Aral Sea between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers consists mainly of rocky areas covered by sparse vegetation and shifting sand dunes. Cotton, rice, and wheat are grown in river valleys and irrigated oases. Seminomadic tribespeople raise Karakul sheep and camels. Gold and natural gas deposits are exploited.