"Historians believe that khoomei was birthed from a desire to speak the language of Nature, translating the earthly sounds of a whistling wind or gurgling brook into human tones," writes Angie Teater, in this personal account of a khoomei concert in Tuva.

Featuring stunning photography by local Russian environmental activist Igor Shpilenok, this story traces the history of Russia's great wilderness preserves or zapovedniks, from their creation in the late 1800s to present-day issues and challenges.