Central Asia peoples of the vast region. Central Asia is sometimes referred to as Turkestan. There are several places that claim to be the geographic center of Asia, for example Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva in the Russian Federation, and a village north of Ürümqi, the capital of the Xinjiang region of China. Central Asia is an extremely large region of varied geography, including high passes and mountains (Tian Shan), vast deserts (Kyzyl Kum, Taklamakan), and especially treeless, grassy steppes. The vast steppe areas of Central Asia are considered together with the steppes of Eastern Europe as a homogeneous geographical zone known
Northern Plains National Heritage Area Northern Plains National Heritage Area Northern Plains National Heritage Area is a federally designated National Heritage Area along an length of the Missouri River in central North Dakota. The heritage area promotes and interprets the scenic, cultural and historic heritage of the region. It extends from Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site to Huff Indian Village State Historic Site The area interprets the history of the Three Affiliated Tribes, the passage of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the fur trade, steamboats on the Missouri and Fort Abraham Lincoln. It also interprets the area's association with the Northern Pacific Railroad,