Mongolia

I

Introduction

Mongolia, officially Republic of Mongolia, known from 1924 to 1991 as the Mongolian People’s Republic, nation in Central Asia, bordered on the north by Russia and on the east, south, and west by China. The country, sometimes called by its former name, Outer Mongolia, has a total area of 1,566,500 sq km (604,830 sq mi). The capital and largest city of Mongolia is Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator).

II

Land and Resources

The topography of Mongolia consists mainly of a plateau between about 914 and 1,524 m (3,000 and 5,000 ft) in elevation broken by mountain ranges in the north and west. The Altai Mountains in the south-west rise to heights above 4,267 m (14,000 ft). The Gobi covers a wide arid tract in the central and south-eastern areas.

A

Rivers and Lakes

The most important rivers in Mongolia are the Selenga and its tributary, the Orhon, in the north. Large lakes include the Har Us, Hyargas, Uvs, and Hövsgöl.

B

Climate

Mongolia’s climate is harsh, with temperatures ranging between -15° and -30° C (-5° and -22° F) in winter and 10° and 26.7° C (50° and 80° F) in summer. Winters are dry, and summer rainfall seldom exceeds 380 mm (15 in) in the mountains and 125 mm (5 in) in the desert.