There are several villages in the upper part of the Yenisei river where old believers live. The traditions of old believers are very strong here. They don't buy anything in shops except the most necessary things like salt, matches or kerosene. Their main occupations are hunting and farming. Old believers are very reserved. They prefer not to communicate with unfamiliar people. Nobody of them will let you in the house or take pictures with you.

The meals of old believers are strictly defined. The most important rule is to keep the fast. Tea drinking is considered to be a sin. Old believers are allowed to eat meat on certain days. But there are also a lot of rules connected with meat eating.

The most famous villages of old believers are Sizim, Erzhei, Uzhep, Erzin and Katazy territory.

Sizim is the last village which can be reached by the road. The majority of population is Russian people. Electricity is produced by a diesel electro station here. There is also a power-saw bench and forestry in the village. Behind Sizim village there are absolutely no roads. There is taiga where only old believers live.

Erzin village is famous for the artist Brigad Dupchur. He is one of the best tuvan stone cutters. His works are exhibited in many Russian museums. Brigad Dupchur is also known as a composer and as a writer.

Another peculiarity of Erzin village is the central estate of the nature reserve "Uvs Nuur basin" which was founded in 1993. 

Katazy village was founded for the only purpose - to store hay for horses. It was situated on the way to the gold mines. In 1960ies people started to move from Katazy to Uzhep, because children needed to go to school. The last family left Katazy in 1963. There were no people living in Katazy until 1990ies. But after Gorbachev reforms one of the families - Permyakovy - returned to the village. They restored the village, bought the most necessary technical equipment - tractors, snowmobiles, boats, motors. They also built a school and a tourist centre for hunting. Katazy village became famous the mayor of Moscow visited it in 1996.