General Information about Mongolia

Geography

Mongolia is a landlocked country of mountains, steppe and desert stretching over an area of 1,566,500 sq km / 604,830 sq miles. Territory Mongolia is the 18th largest in the world. It is bordered to the north by Russia, while China forms the border to the east, south and west. In the south the Gobi Desert covers more than a third of the country. Around 20% of the remainder is grassland steppe, and some 25%, principally the central, northern and western provinces, is classed as mountain forest steppe. Along the northern border is a large area of larch and pine forest which is essentially the southernmost reaches of Siberia. In central Mongolia the steppe rises to the Khangai mountain range with its highest peak reaching 4031m/12611ft. Mongolia’s highest  mountain ranges are in the far west. The highest point, Mount Khuiten at 4374m/14350ft is located on the border with both Russia and China and the western end of the in the Mongol Altai Tavanbogd. North of this range is a protected area known as the ‘Great Lakes Depression’ covering an area of 39,000 sq km/ 15,000 sq miles. This is an area of snow capped mountains and large saltwater and freshwater lakes set in a desert landscape.

Climate

Mongolia's climate is extremely continental. With an average 260 days per year of sunshine Mongolia is justifiably known as ‘the Land of Blue Sky’ It is however a land of temperature extremes. Without a nearby sea to moderate its climate, winter temperatures can drop to minus 50 degrees centigrade whereas summer daytime temperatures can rise to a pleasant 25 degrees. The summer is wetter than the winter but at this time showers tend to be brief and gentle. In the mountain areas weather conditions are similar to the European Alps – long periods of high pressure and stable conditions, followed by relatively brief storms. August usually sees the warmest conditions, zero degrees at night followed by calm sunny days of 20 degrees centigrade. However, weather in the mountains is variable and visitors are likely to encounter some rain and blizzards can occur at any time of year. The mean annual precipitation is 200 - 300mm of which 80 to 90 percent falls within five months (May to September). Mongolia is the land of winds and especially sharp winds blow in spring. In the Gobi and steppe areas winds often develop into devastating storms, reaching a velocity of 15-25 meters per seconds.

Average temperature in Mongolia

Ethnic group

Khalkha Mongol (85% of population), Kasakh (7%), several Mongolian tribes (Burjat, Durwut, Bayat, Dariganga, Zakhchin, Torgut). Four million Mongols live outside Mongolia.

History

Mongolia has had a long and turbulent history. Towards the end of the 12th century the nomadic inhabitants of northern Asia became united under the leadership of the remarkable Mongol king, Genghis Khan. Two generations later, during the reign of Chinggis khan`s grandson Kublai Khan, the vast territory of Mongolia reached its greatest extent, stretching from the Black Sea to the Yellow Sea of Eastern China. After the Khan dynasty fizzled out at the end of the thirteenth century, the unity of Mongolia evaporated and the country experienced a period of several centuries which was dominated by inter-clan warfare. At the end of the eighteenth century, Mongolia came under the rule of Manchu China and then in the early twentieth century the country experienced a “Peoples Revolution” (1921) and became allied to the Soviet Union. Since 1991, with the break up of the Soviet Union, Mongolia has been an independent democracy and has become readily accessible to foreign travelers. The first major geographical expeditions to the remote Altai Tavan Bogd region were in the 1920’s, led by the famous Russian Botanist, Potaniin. No successful climbs of the snowy peaks were made at this time. Mount Khuiten was first climbed by a Mongolian team of Mountaineers in 1956. The 1960’s and 1970’s saw numerous expeditions from Czechoslovakia, Romania and Poland claim first ascents of other peaks in the region. The region opened up to western climbers in the early 1990’s and first British ascents were made in 1992 by teams from Operation Raleigh. Since that time, a small number of expeditions do visit this region, each year, during the brief summer months. Fewer than 20 people will summit Mount Khuiten on a yearly basis. Much of the Mongolia’s steppe is quite rich grassland which supports several species of wildlife, including antelope, gazelle and wild ass. It is also home to the nomadic Mongolian pastoralists who tend often large numbers of sheep, goats, cattle, horses, yaks and camels, traveling widely across the plains and living in very portable homes known as “GERS.” Remarkably, out of a population of two and a half million people, fully fifty percent live in this traditional type of dwelling, which incorporates a framework of slender poles and a covering of tough felt.

Mongolian Tradition and Customs

Most people probably think of Mongolia as being inhabited by a single ethnic group in view of the small population size of 2.7 million people with 1.8 people per square kilometer - the Mongols - this is wrong. The rich cultural and social fabric of Mongolia is made up of 20 different ethnic groups one of which is non-Mongol group – the Kazakhs (Muslim). The Khalkh make up 99% of the population. Kazakhs descendants of Turkic tribes famed for their skill of raising eagles in captivity and hunting with them come in second followed by Dorvod, Bayad, Barga, Buriad. Dariganga people are famous for their unique traditional songs, blacksmith and silversmith skills, and elaborate handicrafts. Other ethnic groups are Zakhchin, Urianhai, Torguud, Darkhad, Myangad, and Tsaatan reindeer herders.

Mongolian language 

Mongolian language belongs to the Altaic group of languages with connections to Turkish and Korean. There are many dialects in Mongolia but the Khalkha is the official one. The traditional Mongolian script is called Vaghintara and of Devanagiri origin that is written vertically. From 1921 Mongolians were using Latin script until we adopted Cyrillic in 1945 due to the Russian influence. Since 1990, the traditional script reemerged and is taught in school.

Deel - traditional Mongolian clothing

Deel, the traditional Mongolian clothing has an easy one-piece cut that resembles a robe tied at the waist. Besides wearing the deel, herders use it as a blanket. The winter deel is made with high collars and longs sleeves insulated with sheep wool. Once the deel is tied at the waist, the chest area is used as a pocket. Throughout the history the traditional deel served as an indication of a person’s social status in terms of fabric, design, and accessories. Every ethnic Mongolian group has their own clothing where deels have intricate and elaborate designs. Since 1990, the deel design has gone through a revival with the addition of many modern designs and fabrics. Deel is worn not only during holidays and celebrations but daily.

Gutal – Mongolian shoes

The Mongolian shoes are long boots made of cow hide with lifted toes and intricate designs and seams. The lifted toes have both a religious and practical meaning. From the Buddhist viewpoint, the lifted toes allow the person to see where he is stepping in order not to harm all forms of life including the insects. From a practical standpoint, the boots with lifted toes allows the rider to have a good hold of stirrups.

Traditional Mongolian Music

Morin Khuur, a two-stringed fiddle figures promi­nently in the nomadic culture of Mongolia. String in­struments adorned with horse heads are referred to by written sources dating back from the Mongol empire of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The fiddle’s significance extends beyond its function as a musical instrument, for it was traditionally an integral part of the rituals and everyday activities of the Mongolian nomads.

The instrument’s hollow trapezoid-shaped body is attached to a long fretless neck bearing a carved horse head at its extremity. Just below the head, two tuning pegs jut out like ears from either side of the neck. The soundboard is covered with animal skin, and the strings and bow are made of horsehair. The instrument’s char­acteristic sound is produced by sliding or stroking the bow against the two strings. Common techniques in­clude multiple stroking by the right hand and a variety of left-hand fingering. It is mainly played in solo fashion but sometimes accompanies dances, long songs (urtiin duu), mythical tales, ceremonies and everyday tasks re­lated to horses. To this day, the morin khuur repertoire has retained some tunes (tatlaga) specifically intend­ed to tame animals. Owing to the simultaneous pres­ence of a main tone and overtones, morin khuur music has always been difficult to transcribe using standard notation. It has been transmitted orally from master to apprentice for many generations.

The Urtiin duu or “long song” is one of the two ma­jor forms of Mongolian singing. The other one is called Bogino duu or “short song”. Urtiin duu as a ritual form of expression associated with important celebrations and festivities holds a special place in the Mongolian society. It is performed at weddings, house warming, celebration of a child’s birth, branding of foals and other social events woven into the life of a herder. Urtiin duu can also be heard at the Naadam, annual celebration of the indepen­dence of Mongolia where the “Three manly sports” fea­turing wrestling, archery and horseracing take place.

The Urtiin duu is a lyrical chant with an extremely wide vocal range of a free composition. Widely believed to have originated 2,000 years ago, the Urtiin duu has been recorded in literary works since the thirteenth century. A rich variety of regional styles has been preserved until today, and performances as well as contemporary com­positions still play a major role in the social and cultural life of nomads of Mongolia. Classical themes of Urtiin duu are typically praise of nomads’ virtues and experiences, motherland, mothers, beauty of the birthplaces and last­ly, praise for the horses.

Mongolian Khuumii or throat singing has 4 ranges.  The Mongolian Khuumii is registered by UNESCO.  During singing two simultaneous tones, a high and a low one are produced with the vocal cords. It is a rare skill that requires special ways of breathing. Khumii is considered as an art form and not exactly a singing but using one’s throat as an instrument.

Mongolian Ger

A ger or “house, home” is referred as the White Pearl of the Steppe. It is not only practical in daily use but holds many meanings for Mongolians. The ger or yurt in a Turkish language, perfected to meet the demands of a nomad’s life, is a circular felt covered dwelling with lattice walls that can be erected and dismantled within an hour. The materials of the ger are lightweight that makes it easy for herders to transport the gers either on the back of a camel or on a horse-pulled cart. The gers are decorated with beautiful carved doors and pillars as well as handmade (woven and knitten) fabrics. The two pillars that hold the toono (roof in a shape of a round opening) symbolize the man and the woman of the household, and walking between them is not approved of. A herder can easily tell you what time of the day it is according to how the light comes through roof. Due to winds mostly from North and Northwest, the doors of the gers always face South, useful to know when one is travelling in the countryside. Another useful tip for a traveler is not to step on the threshold as you enter the ger, for you would be seen as stepping on the neck of the head of the household!

Nomadic Mongolia  

Mongolians, one of the last remaining nomadic people in the world, are still roam­ing the vast grasslands with no fences and living in the traditional felt covered gers. For 3,000 years, the “five animal” people of the steppes have adopted a pastoral way of life moving in the search of best pas­tures and in step with seasonal changes. They live by their livestock known as the five muzzles that include horses, camels, sheep, goats, and cows.

Reindeers are a small culture of reindeer herders living and bred by the Tsaatan people who live in northern high up in the mountains of Khuvsgul lake in Khuvsgul aimag (province) bordering with Siberia of Russia.

The North Taiga band was organized under the Qing Dynasty from 1755-1912 as part of Toja or Uriyankhai banner. With Mongolian independence, the banner became part of independent Tuva, which was soon annexed by the Russians in 1944, leaving only North Taiga band on the Mongolian side of the frontier. The South Taiga group of the Dukhans and other Uriankhais fled over the frontier from Tuva to avoid conscription in the 1930s. At first, the Mongolian government repeatedly deported them back to Tuva. In 1956 the government finally gave them Mongolian citizenship and resettled them atTsagaan Nuur Lake on the Shishigt River.

Only 44 Dukha families remain, totaling somewhere between 200 and 400 people. They ride, breed, milk, and live off of reindeer, though the reindeer population has dropped to approximately 600 since the 1970s, when it was an estimated 2000. Since the democratization of Mongolia, no governmental programs have been in place to replenish reindeer herds with animals from Siberia, direly endangering the Dukha way of life. Much of the Dukha income today comes from tourists who pay to buy their crafts and to ride their domesticated reindeer.

A horse is not only a prized possession of a Mongol but means of living and surviv­al. The horse is what defines the nomadic culture where any herder can ride as well as he or she can walk. The small horses with big chests and short legs despite their size are incredibly resistant. They live all year around in semi-wild herds, gathered only for the draft and the capture. They are par­tially watched over by herdsmen to defend only against the wolves in winter.

Airag or the fermented mare’s milk is praised for its benefit for health and the digestive system. Some airag from certain areas are more famous than the others de­pending on the grazing grounds and the skill of the maker. Airag holds the same cul­tural and social value in Mongolia as wine in France.

Yaks and cows bring meat, leather and milk used for making a variety of dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese, and aaruul or dried curds that constitute the main diet of nomads during the summer months. Aaruul, cheese balls of different shapes and sizes dried on the roof of the ger, is used year round.

Sheep is the most common livestock used for meat, a basic staple of nomad’s diet. The skin and wool are used for cloth­ing and making felt to insulate the gers. Goats are raised for their valuable cashmere (goat’s down), the highest quality cash­mere in the world.

In Gobi regions, the two-humped Bactrian camels are used for meat, milk, and wool as well as for riding and transportation.

Nomads devote their day tending to their livestock – watching over, milking, shearing, or combing – to produce felt and felt clothes, cheese and other dairy prod­ucts. Herders use uurga or lasso like pole to catch horses for taming or milking.

Flora and fauna

Wildlife Mongolia has 136 mammal species, almost 400 different types of birds and 76 species of fish. From the abundance of wolves to the globally endangered Snow Leopard, there is a myriad of wildlife to track, photograph and hunt.
Nearly 10% is forest, mainly conifers in the northern region next to Siberia. Most of Mongolia is wide open ‘steppe’ grasslands in transition with the arid lands of the Gobi Desert. Western high Altai Mountain boasts a rich varied wildlife. Apart from common wolf and wild cats, such as lynx and Snow Leopard, Altai is home to the world's largest wild sheep - Argali and Siberian ibex.
The Gobi desert and the eastern Mongolian steppe are inhabited by thousands of gazelles. The rarest animal in Mongolia - the Gobi bear is found in the south western part of Gobi. Wild ass and wild camels are abundantly found in the desert while Argali and Gobi ibex also inhabit the Rocky Mountains within the Gobi region.
Wild horses have been reintroduced to the country from captivity abroad after being unseen for about thirty years in their home country. Bird life is rich and includes the golden eagle, bearded vulture and other birds of prey, while the country's 2,000 lakes are a magnet for water birds including storks and gulls. The east of Mongolia is famous for its bird life, boasting lakes of storks and pelicans, while vultures can be seen across the country and species as rare as the Altai snow cuckoo and the mute swan are still observed in the countryside. "

Administration

Mongolia is parliament governing with the president democratic country. The main political administration is State Parliament known as Ulsiin Ikh Khural consists of 76 members. The parliament and president election held every 4 years in whole state. The executive body is the government which consists of ministers. And the government establish by the State Conference. Administrative subdivisions 21 aimags (provinces), the capital city (Ulaanbaatar), the aimag are subdivided into soums.

Population

The population of Mongolia is at present 2,8 million. 51% of the total population lives in urban areas, density is 1.5 people per sq km. The present yearly rate of population growth is estimated as 2.8 per cent. About 75 per cent of the total population of Mongolia Khalka Mongol the major ethnic group, the rest 15 per cent other minority of ethnic groups such as Zakhchin Torguud, Durvud, Kazakh.

Currency

The basic monetary unit in Mongolia is TUGRUG, which is equal to 100 mungu. At the present, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, and 10 tugrug notes are in circulation. Commercial banks in Ulaanbaatar and province centers are the official organizations authorized to exchange foreign currency. They have network of branches in Ulaanbaatar and exchange bureaus at main hotels. ATM machine  is available.  As of 20 April 2011 currency rate is:

£1 = 1,924 TUGRIKS
$1 = 1,234 TUGRIKS
€1 = 1,780 TUGRIKS
¥1 = 14.90 TUGRIKS

Language

The official language is Mongolian which Altai language family (known as MONGULID). Mongolians can be subdivided into more than 20 ethnic groups. They are distinguished by their individual customs and dialects. The largest group Khalkh speaks central Mongolian dialect and western Mongolian speak Kazakh and Tuva languages.

Economy

Mongolian economy has traditionally been based on nomadic husbandry and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits. Copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten and gold account for a large part of industrial production. This was compounded by falling prices for Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to privatization. Growth was 10.6% in 2004, 5.5% in 2005, and 7.5% in 2006, largely because of high copper prices and new gold production. China is Mongolia's chief export partner and a main source of the "shadow" or "grey" economy.

Culture

Mongolian culture has many distinctive features. They are closely connected with the life style. From ancient times on, Mongolian have lived in the vast lands of Central Asia. Raising livestock and nomadic living patterns have found reflection in everyday thinking and the culture.

One of the unique features of nomadic culture is that Mongolian people live in full harmony with Mother Nature. In comparison with settled peoples, the nomadic herders face nature directly on a day in, day out basis.

Livestock Herding, the main source of the nomadic lifestyle, is another important trait of Mongolian culture. Mongolians have a history of raising and caring for their livestock. Horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and camels are praised as the "five treasures". Horses are considered the "emeralds" and are highly respected among the people. Thousands of teachings, sayings, proverbs, tales, epics, songs, and dances have been created in praise of the "five treasures'.

Religion

Buddhist Lamaism about 82% since 14th century, Shamanism (in the north), Muslims 8% in the West (Kazakh groups) and Christianity  around 10% of total population since 1990’s.

Time Zone

The time in Mongolia is GMT +7 hours