Golden Eagle Festival

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Held to promote the preservation both of the local wild Golden Eagles and the local tradition of hunting with them (not for them), this event pits traditionally dressed and mounted eagle hunters against each other in a test of their hunting and training skills.

Regally decorated in silver, leather and furs, both the eagles and their handlers travel for days to attend this annual event, casually catching foxes along the way in preparation for the final days event. There are usually more than 50 competitors and the competition is growing year by year. The first day is all about looks and handling, the second about flying speed, distance and dexterity (eagles must land on the arm of their galloping master.) and the final day is for the fox hunting. All this is played out in the bare, windy brightness of the clear skied steppe, the eagles showing up caramel against the blue.

3 / 5 Review by editor Worldreviewer