Mongolia. Geography Characteristics of the political and geographical location of Mongolia

Territory: 1.566 million km 2 .

Population: 2.58 million people (1998).

Capital: Ulaanbaatar (600.9 thousand inhabitants).

Highest point of the relief: Nairamdal-Ur (4374 m).

Official language: Mongolian.

Mr. religion: Buddhism (Lamaism).

State build: parliamentary republic.

Head of State: President, elected for 4 years.

Legislature: Great People's Khural (76 members elected for 4 years).

Administrative division: 21 aimak (divided into somons).

Export: minerals, fuel, livestock products.

Import: industrial equipment, vehicles, consumer goods.

Trading partner: Russia.

Gross national product per capita: 310 dollars USA.

Borders: in the north with Russia, in the southwest, south and east with China.

Mongolia is one of the most sparsely populated countries. More than 90% of the population are Mongols and groups of Turkic origin merged with them, speaking dialects of the Mongolian language. Traditional religion is Buddhism (Lamaism). The capital is Ulaanbaatar. The climate is sharply continental, due to both the remoteness from the oceans, considerable absolute altitudes (average altitude above sea level is 1600 m), and isolation, thanks to mountain ranges, from other parts of Asia. There is little atmospheric precipitation, mainly in the summer, in the form of rain. The large extent of the territory from north to south and the diversity of the relief determined the variety of natural conditions, the successive change of natural zones and zones: highlands, mountain taiga, mountain steppes and forests, steppes, desert steppes and deserts. The belt of mountain steppes and forests is considered the most favorable for human life.

According to natural and economic characteristics, three economic and geographical regions are distinguished - Central, Eastern and Western. The Central region, which includes half of the entire territory of Mongolia and 2/3 of its population, accounts for 4/5 of the annual production. There are more mineral deposits explored and developed here than in other areas. Most Big City country - the capital Ulaanbaatar retained the functions of the main sacred city of northern Mongolia. It contained the largest and richest monasteries, which were visited by numerous pilgrims. Now the capital has 537 thousand inhabitants. Near the big bustling city there is the mountain reserve Bogdo-Ula (Holy Mountain) - a land of cedar-larch taiga, granite rocks and silence, a place of free habitat for animals and birds. At the foot of the mountain, in the deep green valleys and on the banks of the Tola River, sanatoriums, rest houses, children's camps were built, and summer yurts for city residents were erected. About 400 km west of Ulaanbaatar, on the left bank of the Orkhon River, near the city of Khara-Khorin, excavations are underway at Karakorum, the capital of the Mongol Empire during the Genghisids (XIII-XVI centuries).

North-west of Khara-Khorin, on the banks of the Chultyn-Gol River, rock paintings of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages were discovered. Rock art can also be found in the canyon of the Chulut River, and in the South Gobi Desert there are giant Paleolithic workshops.

Geographical position

Now many will not even be able to accurately answer the question of where this very Mongolia is located. Mongolia is a continental country located in Central Asia, in the north it borders with Russia, in the south, west and east it borders with China. Mongolia does not have access to the sea, but it has many rivers and lakes of various sizes. This country is considered the most elevated because its main territory is occupied by mountains and hills. Even its average height above sea level reaches 1600 m. And the height of the mountains in some areas of the country is 4500 m. In addition to mountains and hills, Mongolia includes steppes, forest-steppes and deserts, and forests mainly grow in the forest-steppe zone. The diversity of natural resources, the majestic beauty of the mountain ranges and many clean reservoirs attract tourists who dream of relaxing in the fresh air and expanse of the steppe. A vacation in such places will be unforgettable and calm, a real relaxation of soul and body.

Mongolia is a country whose climate includes all possible weather variations due to its location. The mountains help escape the cold and damp air coming from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. As a result, the climate can be called sharply continental. This suggests that there are much more sunny days here, even in winter, the air is dry, and there is very little precipitation. In summer, the average air temperature is 20-25 degrees above zero; the hottest month here is July. In the famous Gobi Desert at this time the temperature can even rise to 50 degrees above zero. In winter, the air temperature, depending on the region, can also drop to 50 degrees. In spring there are very strong winds, in some places the wind reaches a force of 15-25 m/s and is capable of blowing away yurts. All these climate features occur because Mongolia is at the center of winter atmospheric pressure; The southernmost pole passes through this country, and the northernmost desert zone lies in western Mongolia. In addition, the Gobi Desert is the most extreme continental zone, so this place has the highest temperatures in summer and the lowest in winter.

Visas, entry rules, customs rules

Entry into Mongolia is not a problem for all residents of Russia. An entry visa is issued within three days at the country's consulate, the duration of the visa is 30 days. In order to visit Mongolia you need to have a passport or invitation. But upon entry, it is mandatory to register with the police, and this must be done within three days. It is advisable that you have a vaccination against cholera and plague or a tourist voucher. As for customs, as elsewhere, the import of drugs, as well as any canned meat products, is prohibited. Weapons and ammunition must have permission from the relevant authorities; without this permission, import is prohibited. As for the import and export of currency, there are no restrictions on this. From all of the above, you can see that visiting the country is not associated with any difficulties, and at any time you can enjoy the beautiful nature of the country, fish in countless rivers and lakes and see the historical monuments of Mongolia.

Population, political status

Mongolia is inhabited by different nationalities, but they are all divided into two groups - Mongolian and Turkic, as well as Russians and Chinese, since Mongolia borders on Russia and China. The total population of the country is slightly more than 2 million people, of which 65% of the total people live in cities; the population of the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, is about 1 million people. Most people live in mountainous areas and in the valleys of large rivers; accordingly, desert areas do not have such a high population.

The head of the country is the president, who is elected for a term of 5 years, and the State Great Khural serves as the legislative body of Mongolia. It is this body that selects candidates for the post of future president. The State Great Khural itself includes 75 members, all of whom are elected by popular vote for a term of 5 years. The Constitution under which this form of government operates came into force in 1992 and which guarantees a person’s freedom of conscience and his rights.

What to see

Mongolia is a center of nature tourism; it is its stunning nature that attracts people here not only from nearby countries, but also from all other countries of the world. Numerous pilgrims head to Mongolia, rushing to visit the best large monasteries in the country. In Northern Mongolia you can visit the oldest Buddhist monastery. And near the city there is a large mountain reserve Bogdo Ula. You can take a look at the excavations ancient city Karakorum, on the banks of the Chulty-Gol River and the Chulut River, rock paintings were found. And that’s not all, there are many different historical values that will appeal to lovers of such things. As for nature, in addition to the mountains, the huge waterfall of the Okhran River attracts, and in the Gobi Desert you can see cemeteries of fossil animals. Another point that attracts a large number of people to Mongolia is the rivers, which abound in fish. All fishing lovers are simply crazy about these places and are ready to sit at their favorite pastime for days. And among the animals you can find the Mongolian antelope or gazelle, which is considered a rare animal and is found only in China and Mongolia.

Mongolia began its history with the fact that hordes of nomads first lived on its territory, who were mainly engaged in cattle breeding and presented great inconvenience to neighboring China. Gradually, these hordes united into tribes and carried out raids on China, which tried to pay off gifts and offerings to the heads of the tribes so that they would stop these invasions. But by doing this they further aggravated the situation, the raids became more frequent, and China had no choice but to strengthen its forces. Having gained strength, China pushed the nomads to the north and built the Great the Chinese wall. Over time, the nomadic tribes united and formed three khanates, which began intensive raids on China in order to achieve equality. They succeeded and the heads of the khanates began to marry Chinese noble women. Gradually, this kinship with the Chinese introduced its own innovations into management, they taught how to create orders and collect taxes, and manage on the basis of laws. In the 12th century, all these disparate tribes were united thanks to the famous Genghis Khan, who called his people the Mongols. Organized the state, subjugated Northern China, Bukhara and Khorezm. It is thanks to Genghis Khan that Mongolia becomes significant to its neighbors as a real full-fledged state.

International trade

Despite its small territorial size, Mongolia receives very Active participation in foreign trade and politics. Of course, due to the proximity to Russia and China, a large percentage of imports and exports come from these countries. In addition, Mongolia effectively cooperates with Japan, Korea, Germany and many other countries. There are a total of 95 countries in this list, while exports include only 55 countries. The main import items are equipment, petroleum products, vehicles and mineral products. The main type of escort in Mongolia is the export of mineral raw materials, the amount of which is increasing every year. Mongolia also exports precious and semiprecious stones, gold, coal, clothing and knitwear. Down from Mongolia, both combed and unkempt, is also in demand. The zinc concentrate that Mongolia exports is no less in demand, and its sales are increasing very quickly. Thus, Mongolia conducts active trade with many countries, receiving from them everything the country needs.

The shops

Almost all retail in Mongolia it is concentrated in supermarkets. And it doesn’t matter at all whether it’s a big store or a tiny store - it will still bear the proud name “Supermarket”. There are almost no locally produced products in stores - most goods are imported. On public holidays many shops are closed. It is customary to bring home camel wool products, cashmere clothes, leather boots and national costumes from Mongolia. There is also a large selection of high-quality sheepskin coats and fur products. Mongolian carpets are very popular. Just don’t try to buy everything at once in a large central store. Yes, the quality here is not worse, but the price is much higher. In the large cities of Mongolia there are many antique shops offering bronze Buddhist figurines, ancient coins and national household items. Sometimes you come across truly unique things.

Demography

The total population of Mongolia is about 3 million people. The bulk of the population lives in cities - approximately 65% of all residents. The most populated areas are the mountainous regions, especially the Khaigai mountain region and the Orkhon River valley. Desert areas are more sparsely populated, and some large areas remain completely empty and uninhabited. To this day, you can meet nomadic tribes who are engaged in cattle breeding and fishing; fortunately, the rivers simply abound with a variety of fish. One can be happy for this small country, because population growth is increasing every year; Compared to 1983 data, population growth has quadrupled since then. The mortality rate is very low, with an average of 10 deaths per 1000 people. And this should really be encouraging, because with the increase in the birth rate, the number of deaths has not increased.

Age structure:
from 0 to 14 years: 27.9% (males 402,448/females 387,059)
from 15 to 64 years old: 68.4% (men 967,546/women 969,389)
65 years and older: 3.7% (men 45,859/women 59,923)

Average age:
total: 24.6 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 25 years old

Population growth rate: 1.46%

Birth rate: 21.59 newborns/per 1000 people

Mortality rate: 6.95 deaths/per 1000 people

Migration rate: 0 migration/per 1000 people

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male/female
up to 15 years: 1.04 male/female
from 15 to 64 years old: 1 male/female
65 years and older: 0.77 men/women
entire population: 1 male/female (2006)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 52.12 deaths/per 1000 births
male: 55.51 deaths/per 1000 births
women: 48.57 deaths/per 1000 births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.89 years
male: 62.64 years
female: 67.25 years (2006)

Total fertility rate: 2.25 births/woman.

Industry

The industry of Mongolia is quite large; there are opportunities to develop many industries that are exported to other countries and are in great demand. Initially, Mongolia was engaged only in agriculture, food production, textile and leather goods. But after World War II, the country received significant financial assistance from both neighboring countries: China and the USSR, which helped significantly expand industry. Today, there are large steel foundries, iron foundries and coal mining operations in Mongolia. Industrial enterprises are located in more than twenty cities, and the bulk of the products produced are consumed domestically. Now Mongolia offers more than a thousand types of agricultural products, leather goods, skins, fur and wool, as well as furs and leather themselves, and ore. These things are exported and used by the population of the country. Mongolia is largely self-employed, with all the basic necessities available.

Vegetable and animal world

The nature of Mongolia attracts many; the flora is very rich and diverse, thanks to the climatic conditions of the country. Mountain areas abound in forests, dominated by cedar, pine, larch and other trees. These areas receive more rainfall, so the vegetation is more diverse. With decreasing altitude, the vegetation becomes more sparse, and in the Gobi Desert region it practically disappears completely. The areas near the river banks are very fertile and also rich in vegetation, and rivers and lakes are excellent for fishing. As for animals, Mongolia also boasts an abundance and variety of animals. Here you can meet various fur-bearing animals; sable, lynx, deer, and roe deer are abundant; the steppes are inhabited by wolves, foxes, and Mongolian roe deer; In the deserts there are wild cats, antelopes and wild camels. This is where the snow leopard lives, which once could be found in the mountainous regions of the Gobi, but now its numbers have decreased significantly. And it is impossible to ignore the diversity of birds, which simply cannot be listed at once.

Banks and money

Let’s say right away that transport in Mongolia is so-so, and roads are even worse. Please note that there is only one more or less decent asphalt road - from Ulaanbaatar to Kharkhorin. And this is not at all the glass-smooth coating that you are used to seeing in your homeland. Of course, you can take a bus to other large populated areas, but it will not be a pleasant trip at all: you will constantly shake from side to side and get motion sickness. An alternative to this is renting a car. But since this type of service is not available in the country as such, you will not be able to rent a car without a driver. In this regard, it is best to contact travel companies that recommend their clients to choose Russian UAZ vehicles for traveling around the country. These machines are extremely unpretentious and quite easy to repair and maintain.

Minerals

Mongolia is one of the three countries in Asia most endowed with mineral resources. For the most part, the mineral resources of this area are associated with deposits of rocks of the Lower Paleozoic and Proterozoic folded complexes. These are deposits of gold, copper, iron ores, molybdenum, tungsten, lead, uranium, tin, silver, alabaster, graphite, asbestos, bitumen, brown and hard coal. Crystal and semi-precious stones, phosphorites and building materials are also mined. New deposits are constantly being explored. Thus, in the central region of the Oyu Tolgoi deposit, impressive layers of rock were found, which contain up to 3.5% copper and up to 0.40 g of gold per ton. In the west of the deposit there are large deposits of porphyry gold and copper ore containing over 390 tons of gold.

Agriculture

Mongolia is the only modern world a state in which pastoralism is still the main activity Agriculture. According to statistics published by the country's government, Mongolia has finally had over forty-two million livestock since 2008. Compared to 2007, this figure has increased by more than two and a half million heads. The first place in terms of the number of animals raised is occupied by the Khubsugul aimag, the second by the Uburkhangai aimag, and the third by the Arkhangai aimag. Mainly cattle, sheep, camels and horses are raised. In the taiga and high mountain regions of the country, Mongolian yaks and deer are popular. Today, in terms of the number of livestock per capita, Mongolia firmly occupies one of the first places in the world (about 12 heads of livestock per person).

When going on vacation to an unknown country, many tourists wonder whether they should leave a tip in local cafes, restaurants and hotels, and if so, what is their size. So, it is not at all necessary to give a tip in most establishments in Mongolia. Of course, this does not apply to large metropolitan establishments, where this cannot be avoided. But the tip size there is small - no more than 5-10% of the order placed or the service provided to you. A number of stores charge a tax, supposedly “established by the government,” of 10%, but most often it is remembered only in restaurants of the highest category and expensive hotels in the capital; in most other places they have not even heard of it. The owners of some restaurants independently add a “commercial tax” to the bill, thereby increasing the price of alcoholic beverages by 1-3%.

National characteristics

Most Mongols still continue to adhere to a nomadic lifestyle. City residents often prefer to live in gers - white woolen yurts, easy to transport and always installed equally on the ground: Entrance door always faces south, inside the yurt on the western side there is a place of honor for guests, the back of the dwelling is intended for the most valuable family heirlooms and photographs of ancestors.

The literature, music and painting of Mongolia are strongly influenced by the nomadic lifestyle of the population and Tibetan Buddhism. So, the purpose of dancing is to drive out evil spirits. Whimsical Mongolian melodies are performed using a variety of instruments and a mixture of many singing styles. Very often, folk music and dances are accompanied by the performance of an incredibly flexible snake man.

Mongolian cuisine is mainly represented by meat products, pilaf and dairy dishes. The indigenous people call all fermented milk products “yogurt”, but they never make them sweet.

Electricity

Mongolia Plug/Socket/

Real steppe Mongolia is a world without what is familiar to us mobile phone, air conditioning, TV, shower with hot water and electricity. Of course, a lot has changed in the country since the days of wandering nomads. But still, don’t expect that in the traditional Mongolian home - a yurt - you will suddenly find an electrical outlet into which you can easily insert a hairdryer or a laptop that runs out of charge on the way. In most urban areas, electricity is certainly available, and the network operates with a standard voltage of 220 V. But the standards of electrical outlets may vary. Therefore, it will be better if you acquire special adapters and adapters. If you are going to stay at a hotel, then you have nothing to worry about. Since most places have long been using standard Russian-made sockets, the so-called “plugs”, and in new hotels they also use European sockets.

Healthcare

Mongolia does not have the healthcare system we are used to. Yes, there are hospitals and health centers, but the population still prefers “grandmother’s” methods of treatment. More precisely, he adheres to the canons of traditional Tibetan medicine. Due to the fact that surgery was banned in Tibet for many years, non-surgical treatment of various diseases, including chronic ones, has reached incredible heights. But before the Mongols began to resort to the knowledge of Tibetan medicine, shamans and herbal healers were engaged in healing. Most often, their help was resorted to in case of serious illness. Yes, and now you can meet big number people who prefer to seek help not from doctors, but from relatives. Today, herbal medicine, massage, manual therapy and reflexology.

Mongolia is an amazing country that amazes tourists with its uniqueness and originality. Located in Central Asia, this country borders only Russia and China and is landlocked. Therefore, the climate of Mongolia is sharply continental. And Ulaanbaatar is considered But still, Mongolia is popular among tourists all over the planet.

General information

Mongolia still preserves its traditions; it has managed to carry its cultural heritage through the centuries. The Great Mongol Empire had a huge impact on world history, the famous leader Genghis Khan was born on the territory of this particular country.

Today, this unique place on the planet attracts primarily those who want to take a break from the noise of big cities and usual resorts and immerse themselves in a special world of pristine natural beauty. Geographical location, climate, plants, animals - all this is unusual and unique. High mountains, endless steppes, blue skies, and a unique world of flora and fauna cannot but attract tourists from all over the world to this country.

Geographical position

Mongolia, whose topography and climate are naturally interconnected, combines on its territory the Gobi Desert and such mountain ranges as the Gobi and Mongolian Altai, Khangai. Thus, Mongolia contains both high mountains and vast plains.

The country is located at an average altitude of 1580 meters above sea level. Mongolia is landlocked and shares borders with Russia and China. The area of the country is 1,566,000 square meters. km. The largest rivers flowing in Mongolia are the Selenga, Kerulen, Khalkhin Gol and others. The capital of the state, Ulaanbaatar, has a long and interesting history.

Population of the country

Today, about 3 million people live in the country. The population density is approximately 1.8 people per square meter. m. territory. The population is distributed unevenly; in the capital the population density is very high, but the southern regions and desert areas are less populated.

The ethnic composition of the population is very diverse:

82% - Mongols;
4% - Kazakhs;
2% are Buryats and other nationalities.

There are also Russians and Chinese in the country. Among the religions here, Buddhism predominates. In addition, a small percentage of the population professes Islam, and there are many adherents of Christianity.

Mongolia: climate and its features

This place is called the "land of blue skies" as it is sunny most of the year. Located in the temperate climate zone, Mongolia has a sharply continental climate. This means that it is characterized by sharp changes in temperature and low amounts of precipitation.

The cold but practically snowless winter in Mongolia (temperatures can drop to -45˚C) gives way to spring with its strong gusts of wind, sometimes reaching hurricane force, and then warm and sunny summers. This country is often the site of sandstorms.

If we briefly describe the climate of Mongolia, it is enough to mention large temperature fluctuations even within a day. There are harsh winters, hot summers and increased dry air. The coldest month is January, the warmest is June.

Why is there such a climate in Mongolia?

Sudden temperature changes, dry air and a large number of sunny days make this place special. We can conclude what are the reasons for the sharp continental climate of Mongolia:

distance from the seas;
obstacles to the flow of moist air currents from the oceans are the mountain ranges that surround the country;
formation high pressure combined with low temperatures in winter.

Such sharp temperature fluctuations and low rainfall make this country special. Familiarization with the reasons for the sharp continental climate of Mongolia will help to better understand the relationship between the topography, geographical location and climate of this country.

Seasons

The best time to visit Mongolia is from May to September. Despite the fact that there are many sunny days here, the temperature range is very large across the seasons. The monthly climate of Mongolia has very characteristic features.

Vegetable world

Mongolia, whose climate is sharply continental, has a rich and unusual flora. On its territory there are various natural zones: highlands, taiga belt, forest-steppe and steppe, desert and semi-desert zones.

In Mongolia you can see mountains covered with deciduous, cedar and pine forests. In the valleys they are replaced by deciduous trees (birch, aspen, ash) and shrubs (honeysuckle, bird cherry, wild rosemary and others). In general, forests occupy about 15% of Mongolia's vegetation.

The vegetation cover of the steppes of Mongolia is also very diverse. It includes plants such as feather grass, wheatgrass and others. Saxaul predominates in semi-deserts. This type of vegetation makes up about 30% of the total flora of Mongolia.

Among the medicinal plants, the most common are juniper, celandine, and sea buckthorn.

Animal world

Mongolia is home to several very rare species of mammals, such as the snow leopard, Przewalski's horse, Mongolian kulan, wild camel and many others (about 130 species in total). There are also many (over 450) different species of birds - eagles, owls, hawks. In the desert there are wild cats, gazelle, and saiga, and in the forests there are deer, sable, and roe deer.

Some of them, unfortunately, need protection, as they are in danger of extinction. The Mongolian government is concerned about preserving the existing rich fund of flora and fauna. For this purpose, numerous reserves and national parks were organized here.

This country is unique. Therefore, it attracts many tourists who want to learn more about Mongolia. There are several features that characterize it:

Mongolia, whose climate is quite harsh, is the country with the coldest capital in the world.
It has the lowest population density of any country in the world.
If you translate the name of the capital Ulaanbaatar from, you get the phrase “red hero”.
Another name for Mongolia is “Land of the Blue Sky”.

Not all tourists heading to these regions know what the climate is like in Mongolia. But even a detailed acquaintance with its features does not frighten lovers of exotic and wild nature.

Send your good work in the knowledge base is simple. Use the form below

Students, graduate students, young scientists who use the knowledge base in their studies and work will be very grateful to you.

EconomicsO- geographical positionMongolia

Ekaterinburg

Plan

1. Brief description

2. History

3. Geography

4. Culture

5. Economy

Conclusion

1. a brief description of

Territory: 1.566 million km 2 .

Population: 2.58 million people (1998).

Capital: Ulaanbaatar (600.9 thousand inhabitants).

Highest pointrelief: Nairamdal-Ur (4374 m).

Official language: Mongolian.

Mr. religion: Buddhism (Lamaism).

State build: parliamentary republic.

Head of State: President, elected for 4 years.

Legislature: Great People's Khural (76 members elected for 4 years).

Administratively- territorial division: 21 aimak (divided into somons).

Export: minerals, fuel, livestock products.

Import: industrial equipment, vehicles, consumer goods.

Trading partner: Russia.

Gross national product per capita: 310 dollars USA.

Borders: in the north with Russia, in the southwest, south and east with China.

According to natural and economic characteristics, three economic and geographical regions are distinguished - Central, Eastern and Western. The Central region, which includes half of the entire territory of Mongolia and 2/3 of its population, accounts for 4/5 of the annual production. There are more mineral deposits explored and developed here than in other areas. The largest city in the country, the capital Ulaanbaatar, retained the functions of the main sacred city of northern Mongolia. It contained the largest and richest monasteries, which were visited by numerous pilgrims. Now the capital has 537 thousand inhabitants. Near the big bustling city there is the mountain reserve Bogdo-Ula (Holy Mountain) - a land of cedar-larch taiga, granite rocks and silence, a place of free habitat for animals and birds. At the foot of the mountain, in the deep green valleys and on the banks of the Tola River, sanatoriums, rest houses, children's camps were built, and summer yurts for city residents were erected. About 400 km west of Ulaanbaatar, on the left bank of the Orkhon River, near the city of Khara-Khorin, excavations are underway at Karakorum, the capital of the Mongol Empire during the Genghisids (XIII-XVI centuries).

2. Story

Archaeological excavations in the Gobi Desert and other regions of Mongolia have uncovered human remains dating back to about 500,000 years ago. Despite the short Mongol summer, wheat cultivation was practiced in the area for many millennia, along with livestock farming, which arose after the Mongols began domesticating horses, camels and yaks.

The word "Mongol" was first recorded by the Chinese during the Teng Dynasty (618-907 AD). At this time, Mongolia was dominated by the Turkic tribes of the Uighurs, who, under the influence of Christianity, after they established control over Mongolia, went to help the friendly rulers of the Chinese Teng dynasty in suppressing the rebellion. They dominated most of Mongolia until 840 AD, when they were defeated by the Kirghiz, whose descendants now live in the Chinese province of Xinjiang.

The Mongols did not want to unite with other nomadic tribes of northern Asia. Until the 12th century, the country was something of a loose alliance of warring clans, until a 20-year-old Mongol ruler named Temujin appeared, who was able to unite most of the Mongol tribes around himself. In 1189 he was given the honorific name Genghis Khan, which means "universal king". While for Europeans this name is associated with ruthlessness and cruelty, for the Mongols it is the personification of strength, unity, law and order. Genghis made the capital the city where modern Kharkhorin is located and sent his strongest cavalry on the famous Mongol takhi horses against China and Russia. By the time of his death in 1227, the Mongol Empire stretched from Beijing to the Caspian Sea.

Genghis Khan's grandson Kublai Khan (1216-1294) completed the conquest of China, ended the reign of the Chinese Song dynasty (960-1279) and became the first emperor of the Chinese Yuuan dynasty (1271-1368). Kublai Khan soon realized that the Mongol Empire could no longer expand its borders. Instead of continuing wars and conquering new territories, he concentrated on maintaining the unity of his vast empire. This was the heyday of Mongolia: the empire stretched from Korea to Hungary, and in the south to Vietnam; it was the largest empire that ever existed in the world.

After Kublai Khan's death in 1294, Mongolia became increasingly dependent on the people it enslaved. Discontent began to arise that the privileged class was exempt from taxes, and the empire began to fall apart as a result of internecine power struggles. In the mid-14th century, the Mongols were driven out of Beijing by the first emperor of the Ming dynasty. And after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, more than 60,000 Mongols were forced to return to Mongolia. Their unity was weakened: a long period of clan strife and disintegration was approaching.

Manchu rule was relatively calm for China until 1800, but the subsequent rule of the Qing dynasty turned out to be extremely corrupt and oppressive. In 1911, this Chinese dynasty fell. Mongolia seized the opportunity: on December 1, 1911, the separation of Mongolia from China was declared, and a theocratic government was established in Mongolia under the leadership of Jbtsun Damba VIII (the Living Buddha). On May 25, 1915, the Kyakhta Treaty was signed between Mongolia, China and Russia, guaranteeing limited autonomy to Mongolia.

The Russian revolution in 1917 was a blow to the Mongolian aristocracy. Taking advantage of Russia's weakness, Chinese military leaders sent their troops into Mongolia in 1919 and occupied the capital. In early 1921, retreating White Guard troops entered Mongolia and drove out the Chinese. The brutality of both Chinese and Russian troops caused a strong wave of Mongol resistance. As the Bolsheviks increasingly suppressed White forces in Siberia, Mongol nationalists turned to them for help. With combined forces they occupied Ulaanbaatar in July 1921. The Buddhist spiritual leader was restored, and the newly created Mongolian People's Party (the first political party in the country's history and the only one for the next 69 years) formed a government. On November 26, 1924, the Mongolian People's Republic (MPR) was proclaimed, and Mongolia became the second largest communist power in the world.

Mongolia built communism completely independently until Stalin concentrated absolute power in his hands in 1920. Stalin's repressions plunged Mongolia into a complete nightmare, with the government's campaign against religious leaders being particularly ruthless. In 1937 there were held mass repression against the monasteries, and many monks were executed. It is believed that about 27,000 people were killed during the period of repression, which amounted to 3% of the population of Mongolia at that time.

During the weakening of the Soviet regime in the early 80s, Jambin Batmonkh took over the leadership of Mongolia, who began to pursue a policy of decentralization, inspired by the reforms of Mikhail Gorbachev. Batmonkh made a timid attempt at perestroika and glasnost in 1986. In 1989 they were installed diplomatic relations with China. Decay Soviet Union led to the final exit of Mongolia from under his influence. But few in Mongolia were prepared for such a rapid collapse.

In March 1990, large pro-democracy demonstrations took place in the square in front of the parliament building in Ulaanbaatar, and numerous protest hunger strikes began. Then everything happened very quickly: Batmonkh lost power; new political parties were created; Hunger strikes, protests and demonstrations continued.

3. Geography

Mongolia has an area of 1,564,116 km? and is basically a plateau raised to a height of 900-1500 m above sea level. A series of mountain ranges and ridges rise above this plateau. The highest of them is the Mongolian Altai, which stretches in the west and southwest of the country for a distance of 900 km. Its continuation are lower ridges that do not form a single massif, collectively called the Gobi Altai.

The large extent of the territory from north to south and the diversity of the relief determined the variety of natural conditions, the successive change of natural zones and zones: highlands, mountain taiga, mountain steppes and forests, steppes, desert steppes and deserts. The belt of mountain steppes and forests is considered the most favorable for human life.

Along the border with Siberia in the north-west of Mongolia there are several ranges that do not form a single massif: Khan Huhei, Ulan Taiga, Eastern Sayan, in the north-east - the Khentei mountain range, in the central part of Mongolia - the Khangai massif, which is divided into several independent ridges

To the east and south of Ulaanbaatar towards the border with China, the height of the Mongolian plateau gradually decreases, and it turns into plains - flat and level in the east, hilly in the south. The south, southwest and southeast of Mongolia are occupied by the Gobi Desert, which continues into north-central China. In terms of landscape characteristics, the Gobi desert is by no means homogeneous; it consists of areas of sandy, rocky, covered with small fragments of stones, level for many kilometers and hilly, different in color - the Mongols especially distinguish the Yellow, Red and Black Gobi. Land-based water sources are very rare here, but groundwater levels are high.

The rivers of Mongolia are born in the mountains. Most of them are the headwaters of the great rivers of Siberia and Far East, carrying their waters towards the Arctic and Pacific oceans. The largest rivers in the country are the Selenga (within the borders of Mongolia - 600 km), Kerulen (1100 km), Onon (300 km), Khalkhin Gol, Kobdo, etc. The deepest is the Selenga. It originates from one of the Khangai ridges and receives several large tributaries - Orkhon, Khanui-gol, Chulutyn-gol, Delger-muren, etc. Its flow speed is from 1.5 to 3 m per second. In any weather, its fast, cold waters, flowing in the clay-sandy shores, and therefore always muddy, have a dark gray color. The Selenga freezes for six months, the average ice thickness is from 1 to 1.5 m. It has two floods a year: spring (snow) and summer (rain). The average depth at the lowest water level is at least 2 m. Having left Mongolia, the Selenga flows through the territory of Buryatia and flows into Baikal.

Rivers in the western and southwestern parts of the country, flowing from the mountains, end up in intermountain basins, have no outlet to the ocean and, as a rule, end their journey in one of the lakes.

In Mongolia, there are over a thousand permanent lakes and a much larger number of temporary lakes that form during the rainy season and disappear during the dry season. In the early Quaternary period, a significant part of the territory of Mongolia was an inland sea, which was later divided into several large bodies of water. The present lakes are what is left of them. The largest of them are located in the basin of the Great Lakes in the north-west of the country - Uvs-nur, Khara-Us-nur, Khirgis-nur, their depth does not exceed several meters. In the east of the country there are lakes Buyr-nur and Khukh-nur. In a giant tectonic depression in the north of Khangai there is Lake Khubsugul (depth up to 238 m), similar to Baikal in water composition, relict flora and fauna.

Among the natural phenomena, the most attractive is the mighty waterfall in the upper reaches of the Orkhon River, where the river falls from a height of 24 m into a deep basalt plateau; and in the Gobi Desert, not far from the spurs of the Gobi Altai, there are the rarest fossil cemeteries on the globe from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (120-70 million years ago).

4. Culture

The nomadic lifestyle of the Mongols depends on animals. Despite urbanization, the way of life of the steppe is decisive in the life of the Mongols. Even in cities, most Mongols live in gers - white woolen tents, easily transported from place to place and having the same location on the ground: the door should always face south, inside at the back wall and a little to the west there is a place of honor for guests, the back - a place for the oldest members of the family and for the most valuable things, there is also a family altar with images of Buddha, family photographs and suitcases. Ask any of the local residents and they will tell you about dozens of different religious rules, beliefs and prejudices associated with traditional Mongolian housing.

The Mongols have always been adherents of Tibetan Buddhism, and the ties between Mongolia and Tibet are historically very close and deep. Once in a lifetime, every Mongolian Buddhist strives to visit the holy city of Lhasa; The Tibetans, in turn, relied on various Mongol tribes to maintain their power. In 1921, when the communists came to power, there were 110,000 lamas (monks) in Mongolia, living in 700 monasteries. Beginning in 1930, thousands of monks were arrested, sent to camps in Siberia, and disappeared. Monasteries were closed and desecrated, and all religious rites and ceremonies were prohibited. Freedom of religion was not restored until 1990. From this time on, a phenomenal revival of Buddhism (and other religions) began. Monasteries were reopened, and even some ex-Communist Party leaders became lamas. Monasteries and temples (xiong) always have Tibetan names. Besides the Buddhists, there is also a group of Sunni Muslims living in the westernmost regions of Mongolia, most of whom are ethnic Kazakhs.

Mongolia's painting, music and literature are heavily influenced by Tibetan Buddhism and the nomadic lifestyle. Tsam dances are intended to drive out evil spirits; they originate from nomadism and shamanism. Banned during communism, they are beginning to make a comeback. Traditional music includes wide range instruments and singing styles. In Mongolian Khumi singing, specially trained male voices produce harmonious overtones from the depths of the throat, producing several sounds simultaneously. It is impossible to imagine Mongolian folk music and dances without the performances of the snake man; this is an ancient Mongolian tradition.

Mongolian is the official language in the country. It belongs to the Ural-Altaic family of languages, which also includes Finnish, Turkish, Kazakh, Uzbek and Korean. Since 1944, Russian Cyrillic has been used as the Mongolian script. The country has created a rich literature, almost unknown to those who speak only European languages. The most important text, Mongol-un Nigusha Tobchiyan (Secret History of the Mongols), which describes the former greatness of the Mongol Empire, has only recently been translated.

An old Mongolian proverb goes something like this: “Eat breakfast yourself, share lunch with your friends, and give dinner to your enemies.” The heartiest and most substantial meals in Mongolia are prepared for breakfast and lunch, usually boiled lamb with plenty of fat and flour, and perhaps dairy products or rice. Kazakhs living in western Mongolia add variety to Mongolian cuisine with horse meat. Mongols are very fond of tea and the classic Mongolian drink - syutey (salty tea). Men who refuse to drink arkhi (vodka) are considered weaklings; shepherds prepare their own homemade drink, airag, from horse milk with an alcohol content of no more than 3%. Many Mongolians process it further to make shimiin arkhi, which increases the alcohol content to 12%.

5. Economy

There are 4 brown coal deposits in Mongolia (Nalaikha, Sharyngol, Darkhan, Baganur). In the south of the country, in the area of the Taban Tolgoi mountain range, coal was discovered, the geological reserves of which amount to billions of tons. Average reserves of tungsten and fluorspar deposits have long been known and are being developed. Copper-molybdenum ore found in Treasure Mountain (Erdenetiin ovoo) led to the creation of a mining and processing plant, around which the city of Erdenet was built.

Pastoralism is still the main economic activity. Today, Mongolia is among the leading countries in the world in terms of livestock per capita (approximately 12 heads per person).

Based on the Foreign Investment Law adopted in 1990, citizens of other countries were able to own shares various types enterprises - from firms with 100% foreign capital to joint ventures. New laws were passed regarding taxation and banking, credit and debt obligations. In May 1991, a privatization law came into force, according to which state property could pass into the hands of “law-abiding” citizens (that is, those who had not previously committed serious crimes) permanently residing in the country. Each citizen was given a special investment coupon that could be bought, sold or given to any other person. Holders of such coupons became active participants in special auctions through which state property was privatized. Later, “state farms” and cooperative livestock associations were liquidated, and the transfer of land and livestock to private ownership began.

Copper and molybdenum concentrate, fluorite, cashmere, wool, leather are the main export goods. The country's interior is rich in mineral resources, including vast deposits of coal, iron ore, tin, copper, zinc, molybdenum, phosphorus, tungsten, gold, fluorite and semi-precious stones.

In February 2003, an independent assessment by a major US company confirmed the discovery of one of the world's largest porphyry copper gold deposits, Oyu Tolgoi (Turquoise Mountain), in Mongolia.

This project has a very favorable economic and geographical location - only 80 km to the border with China. This not only creates an excellent opportunity to supply gold and copper ore to a global importer of non-ferrous metals. Among other things, this allows us to count on fairly low construction and mine development costs.

The total (over four sections) estimated reserves of the deposit are 1.6 billion tons of ore containing an average of 0.63% copper and 0.17 g/t gold. Metal reserves amount to 9.0 million ounces of gold and 22.3 billion pounds of copper. In addition, based on the results of the work, the estimated reserves amount to 509 million tons of ore containing an average of 0.40% copper and 0.59 g/t gold; metal reserves - 9.7 million ounces of gold and 4.5 billion pounds of copper.

The country's monetary unit is the Mongolian tugrik (100 mungu).

Conclusion

Regarding the economy of Mongolia. Mongolia is home to one of the world's largest deposits. This project has a very favorable economic and geographical location - only 80 km to the border with China. This not only creates an excellent opportunity to supply gold and copper ore to a global importer of non-ferrous metals. Among other things, this allows us to count on fairly low construction and mine development costs. So Mongolia is a country rich in copper and gold and is not threatened by an economic crisis.