Description:
Since the 17th century, the Russian czars have been pulling Kazakhstan under their wings, in hopes of expanding their empire and getting closer to the Mediterranean Sea's estuary. The Kazakhs were negatively affected as the Russian occupiers tried to change their traditional nomad lifestyle and convert it into permanent life, much easier to rule over. As a result, many Kazakhs found themselves migrating south the western Chinese regions. From the mid-19th century, more and more Kazakhs started migrating into Mongolia from these regions.
The Altai Mountain ridges in west Mongolia were not yet a significant point of interest for the Chinese and Russians, and so until the 20th century, the Mongolian Kazakhs found themselves a convenient territory, one they were able to call home. The situation for the nomads in Kazakhstan exacerbated once the Soviet Union was founded - lands were stolen from the migrants as a result of the collectivization and they suffered cruel persecutions by the Soviets. Consequently, they were pushed out to cross the Altai Mountain peaks into Mongolia, where they found relative peace. Although Mongolia also turned into a communist country in 1924, the Mongolian Kazakhs in west Mongolia managed to somewhat preserve their traditional lifestyle.
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This photo was taken in a high iso and therefore it has a painting effect.
