Mongolia's Geography
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia that is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east, and west.
During the 13th century, the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan saw the Mongols establish one of the largest contiguous land empires in history that stretched from Eastern Asia to Eastern Europe. In fact, one of the primary purposes of China constructing the Great Wall was to deter nomadic invaders from the Mongolian region.
The country now covers an area of 603,909 square miles yet is home to only about 3.3 million people. Most of the population is centered around urban areas like the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.
Mongolia experiences a continental climate with long, cold winters and short, hot summers. However, this climate changes with elevation in the Altai and Khangai mountain ranges and in the Gobi Desert.
The Altai Mountains generally experience cooler temperatures compared to the surrounding areas because of its elevation and its proximity to Siberia, Russia. The Altai Mountains receive more precipitation than other areas of Mongolia, in the form of rain during the summer and snowfall in the winter. This precipitation contributes to the growth of forests and meadows found throughout the range.
The Khangai Mountains, located in central Mongolia, experience more of a continental climate and receive less precipitation than the Altai Mountains. The Khangai Mountains serve as a crucial water source for Mongolia. The range is the source of numerous rivers, including the Orkhon River, one of the longest in Mongolia. Archeological evidence shows that nomadic communities existed in these mountains as early as the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.
The Gobi Desert covers about 30% of Mongolia, mostly in the southern region. The desert has long been home to nomadic herders who still rely on its sparse vegetation and limited water sources to sustain livestock such as goats, sheep, and camels. Nomadic pastoralism still remains a way of life in the region today.
Mongolia declared independence from the Chinese Qing Dynasty in 1911, however, it came under Soviet influence in 1924 declaring itself a socialist state. The country formed a close alliance with the Soviet Union, which provided Mongolia with economic and military support.
In 1992, Mongolia adopted a new constitution that transitioned the country from a one-party socialist state to a multi-party democracy. The country’s economy currently relies heavily on mining and agriculture, while trying to preserve traditional Mongolian culture and heritage.