Uploaded January 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago

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400 years ago the descendants of Mongolian Oirats (The Kalmyks) migrated to Europe. They created the Kalmyk Khanate from 1635 to 1779 in the south of the European part of Russia territory. Today they form a majority in Kalmykia, located in the Kalmyk Steppe, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. They are the only traditionally Buddhist people who are located within Europe.

Time codes:
00:00 Welcome to the only Buddhist republic in Europe!
01:20 A day starts with Kalmyk/Mongolian salty tea
03:15 Let's find the Mongols!
05:10 Meeting the Bactrian camels
07:00 Being a guest in a Mongol yurt
09:50 Exploring Kalmyk steppes
12:20 Throat singing
14:15 A natural wonder in the steppe
15:28 Heading North!

📌elinabakunova.com/russianclub - Russian Speaking Club where you can practice the Russian language. Join us from any level ;)

🔸What can you find on my channel?
👉🏻Russian culture explained! (facts that you won't find on google) youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeQTCVW4juG8wDADr0OqmPLnv1mfnoYkr
👉🏻travel vlogs to off-the-beaten-path and remote places of Russia
👉🏻 daily life in different regions of Russia
👉🏻 traveling elsewhere & discovering new cultures

📍 More videos:
youtu.be/nhHvBQi7kDM - Is this Europe?! Celebrating the New Year in Kalmykia

youtu.be/kCgN2EY-44g - Who are the Tatars? | Largest ethnic minority in Russia

youtu.be/BpZHXmrfjLg - Life in Russia's COLDEST CITY - Yakutsk | Yakut habits, heatwave(-35 C°)
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