Mongolia

Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of 1,564,116 square kilometres (603,909 square miles), with a population of only 3.3 million, making it the least populated sovereign nation in the world.

Taiga/forest area

The Mongolian taiga area is part of the vast forested region of southern Siberia. It is found in the Khentii Mountains in mountainous areas near Khovsgol Lake and on the northern and eastern slopes of the Khangai Mountains. These Mongolian coniferous taiga forests are composed mainly of Siberian larch (70%) and, at higher altitudes, Siberian pine, mosses and lichens are abundant. Mongolia’s taiga forests cover about five percent of the country and these areas remain largely intact.

Mountain forest steppe area

The mountain forest steppe area is located on the lower slopes of the Khentii and Khangai mountain ranges, in the Mongolian Altai mountains, in the river basins of Orkhon and Selenge and in the mountains of eastern Mongolia.

Steppic area

Vast grasslands, or steppes, form the heart of Mongolia both geographically and economically. The entire far eastern part of the country falls into this area, extending west under the Khangai Range to the Great Lakes basin of Uvs province. This sea of grass covers hilly and hilly lands as far as the eye can see, encompassing 205 of Mongolian territory. It provides the most important pastures for Mongolian cattle herds.

Desert steppe (semi-desert)

The desert steppe occupies 20% of the Mongolian territory between the prairies and deserts. It includes the Great Lakes basin and most of the land between the Altai and Khangai ranges, as well as the Eastern Gobi. Low salt plains predominate and precipitation is rare (100-125 mm per year), and winds and dust storms ravage the countryside, but despite these harsh conditions, many pastoral nomads find a livelihood with their herds of camels, sheep and goats in these areas. semi-desert regions. Gobi Desert Once an ancient inland sea, the Gobi Desert occupies much of southern Mongolia and northeastern China. It is a place that attracts many fossil collectors. The landscape is rugged and inhospitable, with little vegetation, but it varies greatly, from mountainous massifs to arid rocky outcrops to flat plains where there are oases lined with poplars and sand dunes.