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Mongolia at a Glance: 5 Regions

Grasp the Character of Each Region

Mongolia is a landlocked country in northern East Asia, bordering Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. The land area is about four times that of Japan, with terrain high in the west and low in the east. In the west spread the Altai mountains, in the east vast steppe, in the south dry desert, and in the north lush green taiga (coniferous forest). There are also many rivers and lakes, and the varied terrain dots the country with scenic sights.

Central Mongolia: Vast Green Steppe and Flocks of Sheep

A scenic land of gently rolling hilly steppe and the forests of the Khangai Mountains. In the steppe areas a typical nomadic life is lived, and large flocks of sheep and horses can be seen. Kharkhorin (Karakorum), the center of the Mongol Empire, and Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, have both flourished on this land.

Main Cities and TownsUlaanbaatar, Terelj, Kharkhorin (Karakorum), Tsetserleg, Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan
Example SightsThe stupas surrounding Erdene Zuu, Mongolia's oldest monastery. Ulaanbaatar, also called the coldest capital in the world (Sukhbaatar Square is a place of rest for citizens).

Western Mongolia: A Land Sparkling with Diverse Nomadic Cultures

In lands represented by the Altai mountain region, with peaks above 4,300 m, and the Uvs Nuur basin region where desert, steppe and tundra coexist, various peoples such as Mongols, Kazakhs and Tuvans live. The Kazakhs, who live mostly in the Altai mountain region, have their own distinctive customs, language and culture.

Main Cities and TownsKhovd, Ulaangom, Ulgii
Example SightsEmbroidery and weaving are important work for Kazakh women, entrusting the happiness of the family to them. The lively Kazakh equestrian game (kyz kuar = "chasing the girl", in which a man and woman pair ride their own horses side by side). Even at the foot of the Altai mountains covered with perpetual snow, people's lives continue unbroken.

Northern Mongolia: A Land Blessed with Forest and Green

A rainy, humid climate has created vast forest areas, lakes and wetlands. The soil is mostly black earth and fertile, so agriculture thrives. Mining, which carries the development of industry, is also active. In the scenic lands of the Darkhad Valley and the taiga, unique ways of life are lived.

Main Cities and TownsDarkhan, Sukhbaatar, Erdenet, Murun, Lake Khuvsgul
Example SightsThe Darkhad Valley has many rivers, lakes and wetlands, with rich vegetation. In the taiga region, people who live with reindeer (the Tsaatan) lead their own way of life.

Eastern Mongolia: The Cradle of the Mongol People

Gently rolling hills at elevations of 1,000 to 1,500 m and vast plains are land suited to raising sheep and horses. Sights related to the Chinggis Khaan legends are also dotted about. The Buryats who live in the forest areas have their own distinctive customs, language and culture.

Main Cities and TownsChoibalsan, Khalkhgol, Dadal
Example SightsThe Menen Plain, Mongolia's largest (home to many gazelles, wolves, rare animals and more). The Chinggis Khaan birthplace memorial. In the east, sights derived from legend are dotted about. In the houses of the Buryats living in the forest area, logs are used in various ways.

Southern Mongolia: The Gobi, Rich in Nature and People

The "Gobi", meaning "a plain of sand and pebbles with sparse short grass", continues forever. In the Gobi, nutritious pasture grass and vitamin-rich wild fruits grow, and it is not a "barren land". A land marked by horizons and skies full of stars.

Main Cities and TownsSouth Gobi, Dalanzadgad, Mandalgobi, Zamyn-Uud
Example SightsThe Gobi spreading below Tsagaan Sovraga is a typical southern landscape, with the morning sun rising over the horizon. It is extremely dry, so camels suit as livestock. The sand ripples formed on the surface by the wind are surprisingly hard and do not crumble.
Also read:
Tourist Destinations in Mongolia
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