Download or read book Central Asia, Russia and the Caucasus: a Pictorial Guide written by Bob Gibbons and published by . This book was released on 2021-08-24 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are many familiar travel destinations across the world that inspire would-be adventurers and tourists. The great region of Central Asia, Russia and the Caucasus had been crisscrossed for centuries by ancient civilisations long before any modern travellers set foot in Samarkand. Most of the so-called 'great civilisations' of the eastern world invaded, plundered, ravaged and conquered much of the region. Colonial powers can be added to this 'rich' tapestry of history. It may not have been 'glorious' but it certainly has left a legacy of sights for travellers to discover. The greater region of Central Asia, Russia and the Caucasus hosts great swathes of grasslands, desert or arid bush, with a mix of mountain ranges. The population is a vast melting pot of people, encompassing Azeri, Armenian, Georgian, Russian, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Tajik, Mongolian, Afghan and some Chinese. The Caucasus cling to a more European culture, with superb scenery, cultural attractions and a mix of peoples, who unfortunately have still to recover from the arbitrary borders imposed by the Soviet Union. The recent war between Azerbaijan and Armenia is a sad testament to this historic conundrum. Russia is a surprising country, especially well away from the more developed hinterlands of Moscow. Few visitors get to places like Saratov, Voronezh or Belgorod, which for those that do makes it all the more intriguing. That Russia is a powerful world player is not in doubt, but all is not as it seems. The roads are a challenge, to say the least, but it is a vast country in which to build the infrastructure. The Central Asian countries are not a seamless collection of domains. There are glaring economic differences between the countries. Oil-rich Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have forged ahead in some respects, but Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have fabulous scenic and cultural wonders to draw in the crowds. Mongolia is perhaps the odd man out in this ensemble, but attracts adventurous travellers and mountain climbers. Afghanistan is included in Central Asia and has more than made its impact on the region; it still does, as the tragic events in Kabul of August 2021 have illustrated so vividly across the world. Like most of Asia, the region is evolving fast as the people have an insatiable desire for the modern. Much of the region is on the cusp of rapid modernisation, with burgeoning economies and innovation. This book is divided into the countries of the region excluding perhaps in future the most important influence on the region - China. Some of the images date back to the 1980s, an era of great adventure; others are more recent. Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus may not be under the travellers' spotlight quite like other parts of the world, but being generally less explored the region holds an engrossing fascination for the curious.