Country Guide to Mongolia

Visa Information

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Any foreign visitor wishing to enter Mongolia must have a valid passport and visa. Mongolian visas are issued by Mongolian Diplomatic Missions abroad or upon arrival at a special request.
Mongolia Embassy and Honored Consul in foreign countries will issue a visa. If there is not any Embassy Consular Office and also Honored Consul in your country (or country, where you are available to apply) you can get a visa at the immigration office of Mongolian border. In this case, you have to inform us at least one week before your arrival. We will fix official documents and also visa request letter to the Border Immigration Office. If Embassy Consuls and Honored Consul request an invitation letter for a visa we will provide with it.

Citizens of below mentioned countries visit to Mongolia without a visa:

* United States of America
* Great Britain
* Hong Kong /up to 14 days visit/
* Macao
* Malaysia
* Singapore /up to 14 days visit/
* Philippines /up to 21 days visit/
* Kazakhstan
* Israel
* Cuba
* Azerbaijan
* Turkmenistan
* Ukraine
* Georgia
* Belarus
* Kyrgyzstan

For all information related to consular matters (visas, citizenship, etc), please contact in person by telephone or E-mail the nearest diplomatic or consular mission of Mongolia.

Do's & Dont's

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You can visit a family anytime during ordinary days because Mongolian people are always hospitable and friendly. They always offer food and drinks for guests who arrived from far places. House owners of the 'ger' would wish you to feel at home. Please remember the following:

- Greet the family members and sit down. Mongolians respect by sitting, but Europeans show respect by standing. Do not sit putting one leg over another, or otherwise people will think that you are looking down on them.

- Do not cross your arm over your chest while sitting. They would think that you are sick.
- Do not point at people. They would suspect that you bring them to evil.
- Women cannot sit on the place of honor (north side of ger) where men can sit. Most of Asian people respect men and give them a seat in the place of honor.
- Europeans let women sit in the place of honor. If one gives praise to the wife, the husband dislikes it and the wife feels ashamed.
- If a present is given right upon entry in a ger, there will be a disfavor (they will be upset) and surprised and worried. The custom is to present a gift before leaving.

- According to European culture tea is offered at the end, but in Mongolian tradition tea must be the first thing to be offered.
- Mongolians dislike when people drink tea holding the rim of drinking bowl. Hold a cup by the bottom, not by the top rim.

- It is a tradition for Mongolian people to offer tea and food for guests, therefore, not necessary to say "Thank you" every time if tea is offered. It is respectful to say at the end something like: "Thank you so much for your hospitality and thank you for your respect". While they are offering food it is not proper to say "I have to go". If you really have to go you can tell some reasons like "I have to move earlier because I have many things to do..."

- Do not pass the place of honor while going out of the house; therefore, you can pass clockwise by the side. Mongolian people do not expect to get gifts from the visitors, but they would be happy if visitors give candies or gifts to their children.

- During formal celebrations or occasions, food, tea or vodka should be given and received with the right hand extended and the left hand supporting the right elbow.

- Use two hands or the right hand to offer or to take something.

- Roll down your sleeves before taking or giving something, or before being introduced to an older person.

- When you give a knife or scissors, pass it giving the handle, but not the blade.

- It is not polite to say “No” when the host offers tea, food or dairy products.

- It is rude not to offer a guest a cup of tea of coffee, some candy, etc.

- Passing a snuff bottle is a formal occasion. You may actually take a pinch or sniff the bottle's top. Before passing the bottle to another, you should offer it back to its owner. If you sample the snuff, do not screw the cap back on - simply leave it on the bottle neck with the snuff blade inside.

- When offered vodka or airag, accept it. Drinking it is not necessary, but you should touch it to your lips as if tasting it, and return the cap or bowl to the person who handed it to you. You may also dip your ring finger into the drink, raise your hand above your head, and flick your finger to the four winds.

- Mongolians touch each other more than Europeans. It is normal to see men or women holding hands or putting their arms around each other's shoulders.

- It is normal for Mongolians to not introduce friends they are with to the friends they meet.

- Mongolian friends sometimes visit each other's house without calling, it is not considered rude.

- It is impolite to put your feet or shoes on chairs or tables. To show the bottom of your feet when sitting in close proximity to another is offensive.

- When you enter a ger, do not step on the threshold. Usually, guests move in a clockwise direction to the west and north.

- The east side of ger (yurt) is the women's side, and the west is the men's.

- Mount and dismount a horse from the left side.

- It is rude for a woman to sit cross-legged in a ger.

- If Mongolians spill airag, milk or other dairy products on the ground, they will dip their fingers into it and touch it lightly to their forehead.

- Do not whistle inside gers or any kind of building. Why should one not whistle at home? If we whistle at home a whirlwind will come and destroy our home... they say. People dislike very much one who whistles and brings about such bad wind. Long time ago there was legend about whistlers who can create a whirlwind to destroy the enemies for the sake of protecting their home.

- When offering a drink, consider that it is better to present a cup without cracks or a damaged rim.

- It is rude to walk across an area where women are milking their cows.

Water Basins

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Arctic Basin

This takes up 20.4 percent of Mongolia, including the rivers Selenge and Khuremtei, with tributaries the Ider, Delgermurun, Eg and Shishkhed.

Selenge River

This begins at the confluence of the rivers Delger Murun and Ider and is the main tributary of Lake Baigali, Russia. The Selenge, running for 1,024 kilometres, drains 425,245 square km, of which 282,050 square km (66 per cent) is in Mongolia.

Orkhon River

This is the biggest right bank tributary of the Selenge, draining 132,855 square km. It occupies 47 per cent of the Selenge river basin. At 1,124 km long, it is Mongolia's longest river, sourced at the northwest of Khangai Mountain. Mongolia's biggest waterfall, Ulaan Tsutgalan, is situated there. The Tuul and Kharaa rivers drain into the Orkhon. The Pacific Ocean basin major rivers are the Onon, Ulz, Khalkh and Kherlen, tributaries of the Amar river. The total length of rivers with permanent flow is about 2,000km; add rivers with irregular growth and the total length is about 8,000km.

Pacific Ocean Basin

The Onon river runs from the hot mineral springs of the Khentii mountains, draining 94,010 square km. Its total length is 808km, of which 298km are in Mongolia, originating from the river Shilca, a tributary of the Onon and Amar rivers. The Onon flows through mountainous forested areas.

Kherlen River

The Kherlen is sourced from the south of a mountain in the Khentii range, 1,750 metres above sea level. It flows east then south and joins Lake Dalai in China. The Kherlen is 1,264km, 1,090km of which is in Mongolia, at first through densely forested mountains, then east to the wooded steppe.

Ulz River

This has its source in mountains on the east of the Khentii range, and flows between the Onon and Kherlen rivers. It drains into Russia's Lake Tooroi.

Khalkh River

This river flows from the Ikh Khyangan mountains and branches into two near Lake Buir. The left branch drains into Lake Buir and the right into the Orshuun river. The Khalkh is 233km long and drains 30,465 square km, of which 12,775 square km are in Mongolia.

Central Asian Inland Basin

Bulgan River

The Bulgan, Uench and Bodonch rivers, which start in the southern face of the Mongol Altai Mountains, are part of the blind Central Asian drainage basin. This includes the Buyant, Khovd, Tsenkher, Sagsai, Sogoog and tributary rivers, which rise in the north of the Mongol Altai Mountains.

Khovd River

The Khovd is sourced in the north of the Mongol Altai Mountains and runs into Lakes Khoton and Khorgon. Running for 593km, its largest tributaries are the Tsagaan Khovd and Khar Khovd.

Zavkhan River

This runs from the southern face of Otgontenger Mountain, the highest peak of the Khangai range. It first flows from the confluence of the Buyant and Shar Us rivers. The Zavkhan flows on the west of the Khangai Mountain into Lake Airag, which is connected to Lake Khyargas. It runs 808 kilometers and provides most of the tributary flow into Lake Khyargas.

Biggest Lakes

Lakes are a significant geographical feature in Mongolia. The mineral and chemical mixture of the lakes depends mainly on geological formation of surface and underground water and physical and geographical conditions of drainage areas. The mineral and the chemical compounds are determined by the lake salt balance, water exchange and outside flow.

Lake Khar-Us

This lake lies at 1,157 meters above sea level, with an area of 1,852 square kilometers, 72 kilometers long, 27km wide and only four meters deep. This fresh water lake has few minerals (180-330 milligram's/ liter in winter, 110-260 milligram's/ liter in summer).

Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan

The lake is 206 meters above sea level, covering 61 square km. It is 16km long, with a shoreline of six km and an average depth of six meters. This fresh soft water lake has low mineralization, varying between 160-210 milligram's/ liter in winter and 100-180 milligram's/ liter in summer.

Lake Buir

The area of its water plane is 615 square km, its length is 40km, its width is 21km and its maximum depth is 10.5 meters. This is a soft and fresh water lake.

Lake Khyargas

The area of its water plane is 1,407 square km. The salt and alkaline water is highly mineralized (1,000 milligrammes/litre), and these minerals and salt ions are unstable. The Khyargas has no outflow. The direct influences of lakes of the Central Asian blind drainage basin on the ecosystem are relatively few. Ecological conditions decline when there is less water because of tributary flow variations and cyclic climate variations. The low water period has been extended in rivers of the Lakes Valley over the last 20 years.As a result, the water level of Lake Buuntsagaan has dropped and Lakes Taastsiin Tsagaan, Orog and Ulaan have dried up.

TSAGAAN SAR

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The New Year festival according to the lunar calendar is called Tsagaan Sar, meaning 'White Moon'. This is a big family celebration with various ceremonies lasting three days. Tsagaan Sar customs are centuries old and it is the most widely celebrated holiday. Tsagaan Sar normally falls on the first day of spring by lunar calendar. This is January or February by the Gregorian calendar, depending on the phases of the moon. Celebration of the lunar New Year's Eve is called 'bituun', and in the evening every family prepares a big meal and lots of fresh food to have a feast. A big wrestling match is broadcasted live throughout the country. People ride their best horses during this holiday, prepare new clothes in advance, and wear the most elegant ones. Homes are cleaned up thoroughly on the eve. In the morning of a New Year, a housewife offers the first cup of tea to gods. After the sunrise, people start to greet each other. They stretch their arms and the youngsters support the elbows of the seniors. Elder people wish a long and happy life to the young. While exchanging snuff bottles in greeting, people usually talk about how they passed the winter.
Tsagaan Sar Holiday is the time to pay visits to relatives, exchange gifts, share the news and eat a lot. Guests are welcomed warmly and are served with tea and food. In addition to food, hosts give a present to visitors and sweets to children. Mongolians attach a great significance to the first day of a New Year; people exercise religious practices called 'Khiymorio sergeekh' for good fortune. Mongols cherish this holiday and try to do as many good deeds as possible in order to bring good luck and prosperity to their households.

NATIONAL FOOD AND DRINKS

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There are five main kinds of animals in Mongolia, affectionately called five-pointed star by Mongols: horse, cattle, camel, sheep and goat. Meat, especially beef and mutton, is a primary source of nutrients and it is consumed in large quantities during the winter and spring.
Dairy products are main products for summer and autumn. People in countryside use very little vegetables and fruits; normally their diet consists of meat, rice and some dough. Use caution when having a true Mongolian meal, since the dishes are very heavy and can cause significant problems for an untrained stomach. Following is the most popular dishes and beverages in Mongolian cuisine:

Boiled meat: Very easy meal. Boil beef or mutton until done. Add salt. Side dishes: potatoes, carrots and dough.

Buuz: This kind of steamed dumpling is normally prepared on big holidays. It is all meat inside, except for some minced onions.

Khuushuur: Deep-fried dumplings, an analog of the McDonalds in US as most popular fast food.

Boodog: The bones of a sheep or marmot are removed through mouth. Skin and meat are left intact. Prepare red-hot stones and insert them inside the body.

Khorkhog: Curved pieces of a sheep are placed in a metal bucket filed with water. Later red-hot stones are thrown in water. Both the broth and meat are consumed.

Gedes: An interesting kind of meat dish, which is prepared from the internal organs of slaughtered cattle and wild animals.

Borts: Beef, mutton or camel meat are dried in sun and wind and preserved for a long period

Tsagan-ide (white food): A collective name for a variety of dairy products, such as urum, tarag (yogurt), aarts (sour cottage cheese), aaruul (dried sweet curd), byaslag (cheese), eezgii (dry curds) and eedem (similar to cheese).

Mongolian tea: made with milk and salt it is appreciated and loved by everyone and makes an essential part of the daily diet. Over centuries of tea drinking in Mongolia, lots of brewing recipes were made have appeared. You can tell where you are in Mongolia just by drinking tea.

Airag: Fermented mare's milk. It is a beverage of choice in summer and autumn seasons. It is kept in bag made of cow's skin or in a wooden vessel.

Shimiin Arkhi: Traditional vodka, distilled from airag, about 25% in alcohol content.

CAMELBACK TOURS IN THE GOBI DESERT

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The Gobi Desert is a vast zone of desert and desert steppe covering almost 30 percent of the Mongolian territory. Desert is often imagined as a lifeless desert, similar to African deserts. In reality, most part of the Gobi Desert is a land of steppes and many camel breeders inhabit this zone as rich in wildlife and vegetation. There is a lot of variety within the Gobi Desert, from wildlife parks and mountains to canyons with dramatic rock faces. Once the site of an ancient inland sea, the area has dried up and then eroded over the eons, providing paleontologists with magnificent specimens of dinosaur fossils. Gobi is extremely diverse; in fact Mongols distinguish 33 types of Gobi, different in vegetation, fauna, climate and appearance. Climate here is nothing short of extreme with temperatures hitting +40C in summer and -40C in winter with very low precipitation. The Mongolian two-humped Bactrian camel is nicknamed the 'Gobi Ship' by local people, and inhabits the Gobi Desert area in the southern part of Mongolia. By exploring the desert while sitting on the back of a Bactrian camel you can discover the wonders and hidden corners of the Gobi and you get a sense of how the desert people live in this vast inhospitable area.

NAADAM

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This is the main national holiday in Mongolia. The roots of these festivities are very ancient. It is celebrated in summer throughout the country, but the main events happen July 11-13 in Ulaanbaatar. Naadam is properly known as Eriin Gurvan Naadam (Three Manly Games). The Three Manly Games are: wrestling, archery and horse races.

WRESTLING

Mongolian wrestling is similar to wrestling found elsewhere, except there are no weight divisions. It will end only when anything other than the soles of the feet or open palms of the wrestler touch the ground. Winners are bestowed glorious titles depending on how many rounds they win. These are nachin (falcon) - five rounds; zaan (elephant) - seven rounds; and arslan (lion) - given to the winner of the tournament. When an arslan wins the tournament second time he becomes an avarga, or titan.
Before each elimination bout, wrestlers limber up and honor the judges, coaches (zasuul) and spectators with a 'devekh' dance mimicking the flight of a mythical bird garuda. Some more bird dancing is performed if the wrestler wins. Before the fifth round a special kind of urtyn duu (long song) is performed by coaches for four most accomplished titans. The song praises the champion, lists his titles and accomplishments and calls the name of an unlucky wrestler who will be facing the titan in the next round. Wrestlers wear small and tough pants, called shuudag, and zodog, the small vest across the shoulders. The legend says that the open-fronted vest was introduced after long ago men discovered to their surprise that the tournament winner was a woman. The vests make sure that no woman enters the competition and harms men's ego.

ARCHERY
Bow was a nomadic weapon of choice since the dawn of times. Archers use a bent composite bow made of layered horn, bark and wood. Arrows are made from willows and the feathers are from vultures and other birds of prey. Male archers stand 75m from the target, while women stand 60m from it. The target is a line of gray, red and yellow leather rings (known as sur) on the ground.
After each shot, special referees who stand near the target (but miraculously never get injured) emit a short cry called a uukhai, and raise their hands in the air to indicate the quality of the shot. The winner who hits the targets the most times is declared the best archer, or mergen.

HORSE RACING

There are normally six age categories for horse racing. For example, a two-year-old horse, called a shudlen, races for 15km, while six and seven-year-old azrag and ikh nas horses race for up to 30km. Conducted over long distance in open area these races leave a lot of room for cheating. Boys and girls aged between five and 13 years old serve as jockeys and prepare for months, especially for Naadam. Before a race riders sing a traditional song called a gingo. The winner is declared tumnii ekh, or 'leader of many'. Riders and spectators rush to comb the sweat off a winning horse with a scraper made from a pelican's beak. The first five horses are admired and revered by the crowd. The five winning riders must drink some special airag, which is then often sprinkled on the riders' heads and on the horses' backsides.

Country Brief

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Formal name: Монгол Улс(Mongol Ulus) or Republic of Mongolia (Mongolia)
Capital city: Ulaanbaatar (Over 1 million)
Currency code: Togrog or MNT (US$1 = MNT 1,430*)
* Exchange rate of July 2009
Language: Mongolian

GEOGRAPHY

Location: North East Asia. Located between Russia (north) and China (south)

Territory: 1,564,116 sq km
By land: 1,554,731 sq km
By water: 9,385 sq km

Land boundaries: 8,220 km
By border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km

Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Khoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Mt.Khuiten 4,374 m

Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron

POPULAtION

Population: 3,041,142 (July 2009 est.)

Life expectancy: 67.6 years

Population growth rate: 1.493% (2009 est.)

Birth rate:
21.05 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)

Ethnic groups: Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)

Religions: Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40% (2004)

Literacy: 97.8%

State Symbols

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Fla of State

The State Flag shall be a rectangle divided vertically into three equal parts colored red, blue, and red. The blue color of the center of the flag, symbolizes "the eternal blue sky" and the red color on both sides symbolizes progress and prosperity. (The Constitution of Mongolia) The Golden Soyombo on the red stripe, nearest to the flag pole, depicts expression of the independence, sovereignty and spirit of Mongolia.

STATE EMBLEM

The State Emblem shall be of circular shape with the white lotus serving as its base and the "never-ending Tumen Nasan" pattern forming its outer frame. The main background is of blue color signifying the eternal blue sky, the Mongols traditional sanctity. In the center of the Emblem a combination of the Precious Steed and the Golden Soyombo sign is depicted as an expression of the independence, sovereignty and spirit of Mongolia. In the upper part of the
Emblem, the Chandmani ( Wish-granting Jewel ) sign symbolizes the past, the present and the future. In the lower part of the Emblem, the sign of the Wheel entwined with the silk scarf Hadag in an expression of reverence and respect, symbolizes continued prosperity. It is placed against the background of a "hill" pattern conveying the notion of "mother earth." (The Constitution of Mongolia)

STATE ANTHEM

Lyrics by: Tsendiin Damdinsuren
Music by: Bilegiin Damdinsuren and Luvsanjamts Murjorj

ECONOMY

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GDP (purchasing power parity):
$9.557 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,200 (2008 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18.8%
industry: 38.5%
services: 42.7% (2008)

Labor force: 1.068 million (2008)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
28% (2008 est.)

Industries: construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing

Exports: $2.539 billion f.o.b. (2008)
copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals, coal
Exports - partners: China 71.9%, Canada 10.7%, US 4.8% (2007)

Imports: $3.615 billion c.i.f. (2008)
machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

Imports - partners: China 32%, Russia 29.4%, South Korea 7.9%, Japan 7.2% (2007)

GOVERNMENT

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Government type: Parliamentary democracy

Legislative body: unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or DP [Norov ALTANKHUYAG]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Sanjaa BAYAR]

Chief of state: President Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ (since June 18, 2009)

Head of government: Prime Minister Sanjaa BAYAR (since November 22, 2007)

GEOGRAPHY

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Mongolia is a land-locked country in the North-East Asia. It borders Russian Federation to the North, China to the East, South and West. Its total borderline is 8,162 km long, 3,485 km of which is with Russian Federation and 4,677 km is with China. The total territory of the country is 1.566 million square kilometers. That makes Mongolia the 18th largest country in the world and gives each Mongolian approximately 0.625 square kilometers of territory on average. The territory of Mongolia is larger than territories of Great Britain, Germany France & Italy combined. Vast grasslands (steppes) dominate eastern and central part of country, with mountains in west and southwest and Gobi Desert in southeast. With an average elevation of 1580 meters (5,182 feet), it ranks among the highest countries in the world. The Altai Mountains, the largest Mongolian mountain range, is located in the western part of the country. This range of mountains stretches for 1500 km. The highest point in the country is Mt. Tavan Bogdo (4374 m above the see level) in the Western Altai Mountains, while the lowest point is Khuh nuur (518m) in Dornod province.

WATER
Mongolia is a continental country, with three huge watersheds. The rivers belong to the inland catchments basins of the Arctic Sea, the Pacific Ocean and the Central Asia Inland Basin. Mongolia has 3,811 rivers and streams running a total of 67,000km; over 3,000 lakes with a total volume of 500 cubic km.

Lake Khuvsgul

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The best known and most notable mountain lake in the country is Khuvsgul, the deepest lake not only of Mongolia, but of Central Asia. Khuvsgul is 136km long, 36.5km wide, and in the middle is 262 meters deep. Its area is 2,760 squares its area is 2,760 square kilometers. A fresh water lake, it has low mineralization (140-240 milligram's per liter), ion variation and hardness (1.1-2.9 milligram's per equivalent liter). It has weak and variable alkalinity (7.4-8.2). Over 90 rivers and stream flow into the Khuvsgul, and the Eg river flows out.

CLIMATE

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Located high above the sea level, separated from the oceans and surrounded by high mountains Mongolia has an extreme continental climate. Even the daily temperature may fluctuate by 20°C-30°C. Winters here are long and very cold, while summers are short and hot. Winters last from November to late April. Summers continue from July to September. The average summer temperature is in mid +20°C (+65°F), dropping to -20°C (-13°F) in winter. Constant winds can reach 4.5 m/s and create quite a wind-chill in winter season. The average rainfall is 200 - 220mm. Mongolia is called ‘The land of the Blue Sky’ for a reason - there are 250 sunny days a year with clear cloudless skies.

Fauna

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Mongolian has animals of the in forest, steppe, desert, alpine, tundra and talus, including many animals commonly found in the Siberian taiga, European-type forests, and western Asian and Turan desert. There are many which are endemic only to deserts and steppes of central and East Asia. Mongolia was also home to now-extinct prehistoric and more recent creatures. A total of 138 mammal species, 449 bird species, 75 fish species, six amphibian species and 22 reptile species are registered in Mongolia. There are also over 13,000 invertebrate species, including 516 insects, worms, fresh water and terrestrial mollusks. Of the mammal species, 24 are still widely hunted, 32 are lightly hunted and four not hunted. A total of 30 mammal species and sub-species have been included in the rare and very rare classifications of the Mongolian Red Book, revised in 1997. Habitats of the Gobi bear (ursus pruinosis), wild camel (camalus bactrianus), takhi (Przewalskii horse), elk, scrofa nigripes and Asian beaver are now totally protected. Over 70 percent of the habitat of the snow-leopard, equus hemionus, river otter, haze musk deer, ovis amman and capra sibrica are also in the special protection network. Re-introduction and re-acclimatizing of valued hunt prey like muskrat, stoat, raccoon, procapra fulturosa, moschus moschiferus, takhi, Asian beaver and capra sibrica are being carried out.

Gobi Bear (ursus pruinosis)
The Gobi bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis), or Mazaalai in Mongolian, is a subspecies of the brown bear, Ursus arctos, found in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. At present they are listed as "very rare" in the Mongolian Red Book, and may represent a threatened species, as the small population of Gobi bears makes them vulnerable to outside threats. Some estimates place the population as low as 30 individuals.

Takhi: Last Wild Horse

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Takhi or Przewalski's Horse is a rare and endangered subspecies of wild horse (Equus ferus) native to the steppes of central Asia. At one time extinct in the wild, it has been reintroduced to its native habitat in Mongolia at the Khustain Nuruu National Park, Takhin Tal Nature Reserve and Khomiin Tal.
Most "wild" horses today, such as the American Mustang or the Australian Brumby, are actually feral horses descended from domesticated animals that escaped and adapted to life in the wild. In contrast, Przewalski's Horse has never been successfully domesticated and remains a truly wild animal today. Przewalski's Horse is one of two known subspecies of Equus ferus, the other being the extinct Tarpan (Equus ferus ferus). The Przewalski's Horse is considered the only remaining truly wild "horse" in the world and may be the closest living wild relative of the domesticated horse, Equus caballus. There are still a number of other wild equines, including three species of zebra and various subspecies of the African wild ass, Onager and Kiang.

Khustain Nuruu National Park

Khustain Nuruu National Park, located in Tov Province (aimag), is a national park of Mongolia. It is also known as Hustai National Park. The Tuul River runs through the park.

It was declared reserve status for over 50,000 hectars of the Khustain Nuruu area in 1993 but after significant scientific field researches into the area it was upgraded to a national park in 1998. The Hustai National Park Trust (HNPT) was established in 2003 and since that time, the HNPT has been responsible for running the park in conjunction with the Mongolian Ministry of Nature and Environment (MNE).

Birds

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Mongolia has registered 434 bird species belonging to 193 genera, 56 families and 17 orders. Over 330 of these species are migratory, while the rest live here year round. About 50 species migrate through Mongolia and another 20 species are observed occasionally. The Mongolian Red Book registers 30 bird species which are rare worldwide. As a result, parts of big lakes and rivers densely inhabited by birds have been protected, including Lakes Khuvusgul, Uvs, Khar-Us,Dayan, Khorgo and Terkhiin-Tsagaan. The Daguur, Dornod and Numrug Strictly Protected Areas were established to protect the Siberian Crane (grus leucogeranus), white-naped crane (grus vipio), houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata), black stork (ciconia nigra), Dalamatian pelican (pelicanus crispus), white spoonbill (platelea leucorodia), Baikal teal (anas formosa), Asiatic dowitcher (limnodromus semiplamatus) and relict gull (larus relictus).

Fish

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Mongolia is landlocked, so it has no sea fish. Mongolian rivers and lakes relate to three basins: the Arctic, the Pacific and the Central Asian. Fish of each are different. There are 75 fish species belonging to 36 genera and 11 families in the Mongolian water basin. It has been estimated that up to 700 tonnes of fish are taken every year from lakes and rivers. An Environment Ministry report said that, since 2000, the amount caught has been consistently declining, with 322 tonnes in 2001, falling to 250 tonnes in 2002. The 1995 Hunting Law, with other laws and regulations, is helping preserve the fish population. The Amur sturgeon (acipenser shrenki) and Siberian or Baikal sturgeon (acipenser baeri) are protected and the glass (Chinese) carp (ctenogharyngodon idella), silver carp (hypophthalmicthys molitrix) and tench (tinca tinca) are registered as endangered. Another six fish species have been included in the Red Book and conservation measures taken. To preserve fish stocks and to maintain favorable breeding conditions, several lakes (including Khuvsgul, Uvs, Terkhiin Tsagaan, Dayan, Khoton and Khar Us) and some parts of rivers are protected areas.

Forests

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Since 1990, the forestry sector institutional and legal framework has changed several times. Legislation includes the Forest Law; Protection against Forest and Steppe Fire Law; National Forestry Policy Law; and the National Forestry Master Programme. A National Forestry Council was formed in 2001 to revitalize the timber industry. Forests cover 18,921,800 hectares (8.1 per cent) along the watershed of the three big basins. They help retain river water resources, stop soil erosion, soften the climate, absorb greenhouse gases, are home to animals, plants and micro-organisms, and hold down permafrost. There are about 140 varieties of trees and shrubs, forests being 84 per cent coniferous or broad-leaved trees, the other 16 per cent being haloxylon ammodendron.
Coniferous and broad-leaved trees cover 10,465,300 hectares, haloxylon ammodendron cover 2,040,900 hectares. Larch accounts for 58.8 per cent, cembra pine 5.2 per cent, birch 8.8 per cent, pine 7.7 per cent and haloxylon 16 per cent of all woodland. There are small areas of spruce, fir, poplar, aspen and willow. Mongolian forests grow in central Asian conditions of extreme climate, and are very susceptible to fire, insect damage and adverse human activity. The government has had a programme of tree replanting for 30 years. At present, 150,000 hectares of forest need restoration, although only 5,000 hectares are being restored annually.

Flora

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Mongolian vegetation presents special features which have developed through time and because of local landscape forms, the environment and climate. Mongolia is a site of convergence with flora originating both in the Great Siberian Taiga and the central Asian steppe and desert.
Mongolia has acquired plant species from Manchuria in the east and from the Kazakhstan-Turan area in the west. The gradual transition from high mountain taiga, to mountain forest steppe and flat grassy plains, and on to semi-desert and true desert, offers features of the world's three basic vegetation regions. This is reflected in the change in precipitation and plant distribution, from foothills to the tops of mountain ranges in vertical belts. Mongolia has over 2,823 plant species, while central Siberia has 2,400 and Inner Mongolia has 2,176.

POPULATION

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Mongolia’s population is over 2.8 million. Over 1 million people live in rural areas and engaged in traditional livestock herding and to some extent in crop production. 1 million inhabitants (more than 40% of total population) live in Ulaanbaatar city. Young people under the age of 35 make 68% of the total population. There are about 20 ethnic groups of Mongol and Turk origin in Mongolia. Mongolian ethnic group consists of two subgroups: western Mongolians (Oirat), and eastern Mongolians (Khalkha and Barga). Khalkhas make about 80% of total population. In the western part of the country, part of the population speaks Turkic languages. Turk ethnic group are the Kazakh (about 5% of population), and Uriankhai - Tuva, Tsaatan, and Khoton. Oirats speak slightly different variation of Mongolian. They are divided into several ethnic subgroups: Bayad (about 2% of population), Dorvod (about 3% of population), Olot, Torguut and Buryat ethnic group (about 2% of population).

Mongolian Names
Traditionally Mongols used a clan name as a family name. However, this practice was banned first by Manchu Qin occupants and then by communist regime. Recently, Mongols are gradually reviving this custom, but now they still mostly use their father’s name as their surname.

Nomadic Lifestyle

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Mongolia appeals to the people who are truly world travelers and who want to see something completely different and enjoy nomadic lifestyle. Nomadic Mongolians are still living the same life as hundreds of years ago, residing in their collapsible wooden framed felt tents "Ger", moving from one place to another seeking better pasture for their animals on camel and horse riding as the sole means of transportation in the countryside.
The country Mongolians, who are literate and have good knowledge about the other parts of the world, still make their traditional clothes and prepare their dairy products in their gers using the same technology dating back to the period of Chingis Khaan.

Mongolia is a cradle of nomadic civilization. The country has been truly nomadic for the last three thousand years and many powerful nomadic empires (khaganats) existed here, such as Mongols, Turks, Huns and Toba. Mongolia is still one of few countries where nomadic way of life is still co-exists with modern industrial society.
Only about half of the population lives in cities, all the rest live as their ancestors lived thousands years ago and it is your chance to see a truly unique and tranquil way of life that carries us for thousands of years, shaping our national identity, philosophy and character.

Clothes

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Mongols do like to wear nice, richly decorated clothes which compensate the simple, ascetic nomadic lifestyle. A harsh climate and uneasy life demand attention to smallest details of clothes.
The nomads' wardrobe is compact but has many variations able to serve for different purposes. "It is amazing how this nation invented clothes that can fit all seasons and needs, well thought off and used in many different ways," wrote Medieval travelers from Europe.
In general, Mongolian clothes follow the principle "What I have, do bear along." Sudden changes of weather with temperatures fluctuating up to 20 degrees, sudden snow or sand storms make nomads to be always ready in any situation.
When a nomadic herder takes his sheep flock to pastures, he carry along everything needed to survive.
However, this does not necessarily mean big bags as riding a horse and tending animals requires freedom of movements, and clothes are designed in a such way as to allow freedom

Deel
Deel or a long textile gown forms the basis of almost all Mongolian clothes. Beside being a main cloth, it can serve as a blanket, tent and cover against unwanted glances. Depending on weather or work needs, other pieces such as jacket or coat can supplement the deel.
Deel protects perfectly against cold and winds. If necessary, its long sleeves are rolled down to serve as gloves. Wide sash, made of several meters long textile, serves as a corset protecting against severe shaking during a fast horse ride. It also serves as a hanger to which a knife, firestone, cup and other accessories can be attached.
A pocket formed by deel above the sash, makes an ideal place for keeping small items. In the nomadic culture, special attention was given to the quality of clothes and its tidiness since a missing button, undone seam or loose knot could have cost one's life during a sudden snow storm or fast horse ride.

Women’s costume

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With the strong European cultural influence over the last seven decades, the traditional Mongolian clothes have become more simple and modern Mongolian women do not need the artistry of their grandmothers.
A full women costume can be seen now only in museums, art exhibition of grandmother's trunk.
Traditional woman costume is very bright and lavishly decorated. Especially exotic was the married woman's hair dress resembling wild sheep horns or wings.
Though there is a legend saying that this headdress reminds about a woman who looks like bird with two wings protecting the hearth, it had rather an aesthetic meaning and eventually was replaced with a wig.
Mongolian women traditionally have had long hairs. To maintain and decorate elaborate hair- do, women used many types of golden and silver hair-pins and slides, often precious stones.
Festive clothes look specially decorative using combinations of such contrast colors as red and green. With the time a silk sash was changed into a leather one.
A long silken or just an ornamented jacket was put over deel, a traditional clothe. On cold days, there was a jersey available. Women form noble families wore light capote or coat.
Women cloth can not go without a head dress, lavishly embroidered with gold and silver threads, corals and pearls. Other jewelry accessories made of silver and precious stones were also worn. Long earrings with many details completed the head dress decorated with strips.
A full costume won't be complete without a small bag with aromas, cuspidor (spittoon) and small items for treating hands and skin. Many women also used small, lavishly decorated boxes for snuff bottle.
Girls and young women wore more modest clothes than married ones. Their deel was of less contrasting colors, more soft and fine.
Head dress consisted of round, cup shaped hat decorated with a red ball from which a long lace hang.

Hats
There were over 100 types of hats, different in shape and purpose - for young and old, men and woman, fashionable and everyday hats. For summer and winter, holiday and ceremonies.
Regular hats like "louz" can serve for all occasions. In winter the hat edges can be lowered and protect against wind or cold. On warmer days sides are rolled up and tied on back side.
Hats are very functional, but also make the main piece of the clothes. Each hat was richly embroidered with silk, velvet, ornaments, furs and even precious stones. Often long tassels and red strips streaming in wind would make the owner look very stylish.
That is why an expression "red tasseled Mongols" was often used.

Shoes
Mongolian boots, known as "gutul" fit ideally horse riding. They are spacious enough and the slightly uplifted boots forward end prevents from being caught in stirrups, in case rider falls off.
Traditional boots are usually worn with a felt sock made according to boots shape. The upper part of the socks coming out of the boots are usually embroidered with silk, leather, various ornaments and applications. Boots are made of the skin of cattle or in special cases, skin of such wild animals as deer, wild goat or sheep. Though shoe making is a long and tedious process, traditionally it was female duty to make them.

Cultural heritage of Nomads

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The broad land of Mongolia has a history and a culture that have been built up during the course of several thousand years of human habitation, and it is one of the cradles of civilization, it is, therefore, very rich in relics dating from Paleolithic times to the late Middle Ages. In many ways, the territory of Mongolia has been a bridge between East and West since the earliest time and therefore the study of those relics not only enriches Mongolia’s history but is also of great relevance to the study of the history and culture of all mankind. Stone tools 500.000 years old have been found in Mongolia, proving that Man was settled in the area at that time, and that it was from Central Asia that he went on to the American continent. Early Man took the stones provided by nature and from them fashioned stone tools; as he began to acquire finer skills in the working of stone, he made not only weapons but also all kinds of jewelry, implements and stone monuments, and began to learn how to construct towns and villages.