Chuvash

The Chuvash hold a special place among Turkic peoples: their language is the only living member of the Oghur, or Bulgar, branch. Where other Turkic languages have "z" and "sh", Chuvash often has "r" and "l" — a trace of a very early split.

The ancestors of the Chuvash are considered to be the people of Volga Bulgaria. Most Chuvash adopted Orthodox Christianity in the 18th century, while ancient beliefs and customs have also survived. Cheboksary is the capital of the Chuvash Republic.