Mongolia

General Information Ghengis Khan brought fame and

fortune to the Mongols.

Ghengis Khan led the Mongols to control over a huge empire located in Eurasia. (Europe and Asia)

This empire was divided after his death.

Eventually the Mongol people lost power and came to be under the control of the Chinese.

In 1921, the Soviet Union backed the Mongolian fight for independence.

Communism took hold in 1924.

The 1990’s brought about great political change as the power in the government shifted from Communist control to democratic.

The economy was then modernized.

Social welfare and public order are priorities.

Location Absolute:

46* North Latitude, and 105* East Longitude.

Relative:Northern Asia, between Russia and China.

Mongolia is landlocked.Can anyone define landlocked?Between two or more countries and not bordering water on any side.

This is a strategically powerful position.

Place: Slightly smaller than the state of Alaska.

Climate:Desert; They have a very wide range of daily and seasonal temperature ranges.

Terrain:Semi-desert and desert plains. Mountains in the West and Southwest. The Gobi Desert is in the South and Central region of the country.

Low Point is Hoh Nuur. This translates as Blue Lake.

High Point is Nayramadlin Orgil.

Natural Hazards:Dust Storms, Grassland and Forest Fires. Droughts and “Zud”. “Zud” means harsh winters.

Ethnicities

Mongol 85%

Turkic 7%

Tungusic 4.6%

Other 3.4%

Religions

TibetanBuddhistLamaism

Muslim orChristian 4%

Capital is Ulaanbaatar.

Gained Independence on July 11, 1921 from China.

Languages: Khalkha Mongol90%

Turkic andRussian 10%

Human and Environmental Interaction Limited fresh water in some areas.

Old communist policies promoted urbanization and rapid urban growth, but they hurt the environment as well.

Ulaanbaatar has severe air pollution due to burning of coal.

Deforestation

Overgrazing

Soil erosion

Desertification and strip mining hurt the environment as well.

Movement

Railways Highways There are some internal Waterways. There are no Ports and Harbors.

Can anyone explain why there are no ports and harbors?Mongolia is LANDLOCKED and there is no body of water bordering it.

Airports: 50 total, but only 10 are paved.

There are no known serious problems with the shipment of illegal or illicit controlled substances at this time.

Region

There are not any current disputes over territory.