The ancient fortress of the VIII century in the Republic of Tuva will soon become the centre of a large tourist site. The idea of the fortress reconstruction belongs to the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia Sergei Shoigu.
      
      The Uigur fortress Por-Bazhyn (in the Tuvan language means “clay house”) is located at the Tere-Khol lake 8 kilometres distant from Kungurtuk village in the eastern part of Tuva. In summer 2007 here took place large-scale archaeological excavations with participation of scientists and students from the Russian leading universities.
      
      Supposedly, the Por-Bazhyn fortress will be reconstructed in its original state next year. At a meeting with the local citizens head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia compared this project with organization of the travel business around the Loch Ness Lake in Scotland and called the locals to look for opportunities for attracting tourists to the region.
      
      Earlier, in August 2007, Sergei Shoigu suggested that it was possible to turn the fortress territory into a “Russian Shaolin” – a history-culture-education centre where people could learn philosophy, Tibetan medicine, horse riding and the eastern martial arts.
      
      Sources: time2travel.ru www.e-vid.ru