On the geological roots of some toponyms in Tuva

Abstract

Apt folk names for mountains and ranges, notable locations, streams, rivers and lakes have long been of interest for travelers and researchers. Tuva is no exception to that: among those who wrote on its toponymics are P. Krylov, S.I. Vainshtein, A.K. Sibilev, B.K. Ondar, etc. The article deals with a number of Tuvan toponyms which are relevant to the studies of geology and geomorphology. We believe this should become one of the directions for future research.

The name of area and town in western Tuva – Ak-Dovurak – comes from the monomineralic aggregates of magnesite (magnesium carbonate, MgCo3, which is white in colour). The names of such rivers as the Ak-Sug and Ak-Hem (Todzha kozhuun (raion)), the Ak (Barun-Hemchik kozhuun) and Lake Ak-Hol (Mongun-Taiga kozhuun) reflect the character of these waterways which take their waters from the melting snow patches in the highlands. Metaphorically speaking, the name ‘ak-Sug’ refers to the waters of heavenly origin, as opposed to the ‘kara-sug’ – earthly or underground waters.

Aldyn-Uurgai (lit. ‘gold mine’), an arjaan (spring) in Erzin kozhuun, took its name from the placer gold deposit near the arjaan. Dus Dag (‘the salt mountain’) is located about 15 km north from Lake Ubsu Nur and is known for a deposit of halite.

Overall, in this article we look at the history of 22 toponyms, including the Dustug-Hem (‘salt river’), a right-bank tributary of the Shui; Dustug (‘salt’), a small mount in Todzha; the Izig-Sug (‘hot water’), an arjaan; the Kyzyl-Hem (‘red river’), a river in the east of Tuva; the river Kyzyl-Tashtyg (‘with red stones’); Mount Ottuk-Dash (‘tinderbox’) in Ulug-Hem kozhuun; Ush-Beldyr (‘a confluence of three rivers’), an area and arjaan in the east of Tuva; and the Charash-Tash (‘beautiful stone’), a mountain range on the left bank of the river Maganattyg, a right-bank tributary of the River Shui in Bai-Taiga kozhuun.