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Mongolia - Geography

The Mongol character has been greatly influenced by the extremes of Mongolia's geography, comprising huge rolling plateaus, rugged mountain ranges, and areas susceptible to earthquakes. On the one hand Mongolia has Hovsgol Nuur--Asia's second largest freshwater lake--and river systems that drain toward the Arctic and Pacific oceans and into Central Asia, and on the other, the Gobi, a vast arid rangeland within which are even less hospitable desert areas. The climate is mostly cold and dry with long frigid winters and short hot summers. Minimal precipitation, temperatures that freeze the nation's rivers and freshwater lakes for long periods of the year, and severe blizzards and dust storms leave only around 1 percent of the land arable and make human and livestock existence fragile at best.

Mongolia is one of the few countries in the temperate belt of the northern hemisphere with its vast territory, perfect ecosystem and virgin land. Mongolia ranked as the seventh largest country in Asia for its territory, which covers an area of 1.564.100 sq. km, larger than the overall combined territory of the United Kingdom , France , Germany and Italy . It is one of the land-locked countries. Mongolia lies in 41° 35’ N. Lat and between 87° 44’ and 119° 56’ E. Long in the north of Central Asia. Mongolia bordered to the north by Russia and to the east, south and west by China . Its total borderline is 8161.8 km long, 3485 km of which is with Russia and 4676.8 km is with China . Within Mongolia , the Mongol Altai Mountains occupy an extensive area of 2392 km from west to north. There is a distance of 1259 km between the Soyon mountain ranges in the Gobi in the south. The nearest body of water to Mongolia is the Yellow Sea , 700 km away in the east.

Mongolia possesses a great range of natural ecosystems within its borders in the world. She is at the junction where the flora and fauna of Siberia are the very different species of the deserts and arid steppes of Central Asia . Largely unknown to the rest of the world until recent years, Mongolia’s unique combination of diverse landscapes, unspoiled habitat, and rare wild plant and animal species has become the subject of growing international attention and conversation efforts. From the Gobi to the Central Asian steppe to the coniferous forests of Siberia ’s taiga, Mongolia contains a great array of natural zones and associated flora and fauna. Mongolia divided into six basic natural zones, differing in climate, landscape, soil, flora and fauna.

High mountain zone

Mongolia is a mountainous country. Though the high mountain zone, which includes the higher elevations of these ranges, makes up only about 5% of Mongolia ’s territory, the country’s average elevation is quite high, at 1580 meters above sea level. In the far western Altai, Khuiten Peak in the Tavan Bogd mountains reaches 4374 meters, the highest point in the country. Many of Mongolia ’s mountain areas show signs of previous Ice Ages, with U-shaped valleys and boulders left behind by retreating glaciers. The climate in the high mountain zone is extremely cold and there is a short growing season. The zone located above tree line characterized by tundra, alpine-sedge meadows, highland swamps and lichen-covered boulder fields.

Taiga (forest) zone

Mongolia ’s taiga zone includes the southern edge of Siberia ’s vast taiga forest, the largest continuous forest system on earth. This zone occurs only in northern Mongolia , where it found in the Khentii Mountains , in the mountainous terrain near Lake Khuvsgul , on the north and east sides of the Khangai Mountains and some parts of the Khan Khukhii range. The taiga zone, which covers about 5% of Mongolia, experiences more precipitation (300-to 400 mm annually) and lower temperatures than most of Mongolia, with cold, snowy winters and cool, rainy summers. In Mongolia, although affected by some mining and timber developments, the taiga remains largely undisturbed.

Mountain Forest Steppe zone

In the mountain-forest steppe zone, the species of Siberia ’s taiga meet those of the Central Asian steppe. The mountain steppe zone occurs in the lower elevations of the Khentii, the Khangai, the Mongolian Altai mountains, in the Orkhon and Selenge river basins, and in the Khyangan mountains. Mixed coniferous forest found on cooler, moister northern slopes, while steppe vegetation predominates on other slopes. The mountain, forest, steppe zones covers about 25% of Mongolia , and is one of the most heavily populated areas in Mongolia . Its pastures, wood, and water make it an important area for herder’s and their livestock.

Steppe zone

Steppe covers nearly the entire far eastern part of Mongolia, extending west in a narrowing band just south of the Khangai and Khan Khukhii mountains all the way to the Depression of the Great Lakes. Mongolia ’s steppe lies in the eastern part of the vast plain that begins in Eastern Europe and reaches to the steppes of Manchuria . The steppe zone includes a distinctive group of flora and fauna. In the central and western areas of the country, the steppe provides many of the nation’s most important grazing lands for domestic livestock. The steppe is vulnerable to impacts from overgrazing, agriculture, roads and other human activities.

Desert Steppe zone

Desert steppe occupies a large band, more than 20% of Mongolia ’s area, extending across the country between the steppe and desert zones. This zone includes the Depression of the Great Lakes , the Valley of the lakes, and most of the area between the Khangai and Altai mountain ranges, as well as the eastern Gobi area. The zone includes many low-lying areas, soils with saltpans, and small ponds. The climate is arid with frequent droughts and annual precipitation of 100-125 mm, and frequent strong winds and dust storms strongly influence the areas vegetation. Still, many of Mongolia ’s nomadic herders occupy this zone.

Desert zone

The Gobi is one of the world’s great deserts, occupying much of southern Mongolia and northeastern China and composing the northern part of Central Asia ’s deserts. Starkly beautiful, the expanses of the fabled Gobi are rugged and inhospitable. Vegetation is sparse here, and the zone displays a remarkable variety, from rocky mountain massifs to the flat pavement-like areas of the super-arid desert, from poplar-fringed oases to vast outwash plains and areas of sand dunes. These areas provide habitat for many of Mongolia ’s threatened species, including the wild camel, Gobi bear, and wild ass. Climate is extreme. Precipitation may fall only once every two to three years, and averages less than 100 mm annually. Temperatures climb as high as 40° C in summer, and fall as low as -40°C in winter. During the spring and fall, dangerously strong winds buffet the area with dust storms and wind speeds up to 140 km/hour.