Geography
Mongolia is one of the few countries, which possesses a great range of natural ecosystems within its borders. Mongolia is located at the junction of Siberian taiga and Central Asian prairie steppe and deserts, and therefore specific species of fauna and flora are included in the territory. Largely unknown to the rest of the world until recent years, Mongolia's unique combination of diverse landscapes, unspoiled habitat, and rare wild plant and animal species, clear water and fresh air has started to attract internatio-nal nature conservation organizations and has become the subject of growing tourism attraction. Though the Gobi falls under the desert category and it may sound unwelcoming, this is actually one of the top atractions for foreigners. Mongolia is mountainous country with an average altitude of 1,580 meters above the sea level. The lowest point “Khokh-nuur” in the east is 552 meters above sea level and the highest point is the mountain “Khuiten” in the Mongolian Altai (in the west) which stands at 4,374 meters. The geography of the country is characterized by great diversity. From north to south it can be divided into 4 areas, mountain-forest steppe, mountain steppe, semi-desert and the desert. In the west-north the mountain ranges and ridges are overgrown with wild forests, big lakes and tempestuous rivers. The vast grasslands of the Asian steppe stretch across the eastern part of the country. The Gobi Desert lies in the south occupying somewhat less than one-third of the Gobi Region, the rest being semi-desert grassland. The typical landscape, a nature-lover's paradise, is an undulating steppe land providing fine pastures. The country is dotted with hundreds of lakes, the largest being Uvs-Nuur (covering an area of 3,350 square km), Huvsgul-Nuur (2,760 square km). Lake Huvsgul being also the largest fresh water lake in Central Asia, is unique with its natural beauty and is called as a "blue pearl of Mongolia". The Orkhon (1,124 kilometres), the Kherlen (1,090 kilometres) and the Selenge (539 kilometres) are the largest rivers.
Anthropology
The Mongols have a long and rich ancient history and are unique in the world for their nomadic civilization. In Hovd district you will be introduced to the way of life and mannerisms of the minority groups of Myangad, Oold, Urianhai, Torguud, Zahchin, Uzemchin, Bayaduud, Durvud, Darhad, Shaazgan, Savar, Buruud, Hereid, Hotuud, Hoshuud, Taichuud. You will be accompanied by an experienced Tour Guide. Hovd province is divided into 17 sums (administrative subdivisions). It is located 1425 km from Ulaanbaatar. There are many interesting and historically important customs and artifacts of cultural interest. We will be able to show you modern day people living as they have for hundreds of years. We will also introduce you to their folk art.
Wildlife
Millions of years ago, Mongolia was home to a variety of dinosaur species. Today a wealth of fossils can be found almost perfectly preserved, in the arid climate and sandy soils of the Gobi Desert. Most of Mongolia is wide and open steppe grasslands. Mongolia has 136 mammal species, almost 400 different types of birds and 76 species of fish. From the abundance of wolves to the globally endangered snow leopard, there is a myriad of wildlife to track, photograph and hunt. The central and northern forest area is home to wolf, wild boar, elk, roedeer, and brown bear. Steppes and forest margins support marmot, muskrat, fox, steppe fox, and sable. Western high Altai Mountain boasts a rich varied wildlife. Apart from common wolf and wild cats, such as lynx and snow leopard, Altai is home to the world's largest wild sheep - argali and Siberian ibex. The Gobi desert and the eastern Mongolian steppe are inhabited by thousands of gazelles. The rarest animal in Mongolia - the Gobi bear is found in the south western part of Gobi. Wild ass and wild camels are abundantly found in the desert while “argali”-Wild sheep and Gobi ibex also inhabit the rocky mountains within the Gobi region. Wild horses have been reintroduced to the country from captivity abroad after being unseen for about thirty years in their home country. Over 200 takhi horses are now living in two protected areas of Mongolia. Bird life is rich and includes the golden eagle, bearded vulture and other birds of prey, while the country's 2,000 lakes are a magnet for water birds including storks and gulls. The east of Mongolia is famous for its bird life, boasting lakes of storks and pelicans, while vultures can be seen at will across the country and species as rare as the Altai snowcock and the mute swan are still observed in the countryside. Bird life is rich and includes Golden Eagle, Bearded Vulture, and other birds of prey, while the 2,000 lakes are magnets for water birds including Storks and even Herring Gull and Relict Gull. The 2,000 lakes support fish unique to Mongolia.
World's longest active fault line
A remarkable surface fault line- the Bulgan Fault- is probably the longest active fault line in the World. The fault moved in the earthquake of 23 July 1905, with a violence of 8.2 on the Richter Scale, making it "one of the largest known earthquakes in continental regions" according to an international team of seismic experts. Immediately afterwards open fissures were 60 meter deep and over 10 meter wide. Today, the fault line can be traced by a trail of destruction of broken ground and deflectedstreams indicating a left lateral slippage of around 11 meter -ahuge devastating single movement. The fault line can be traced for almost 400 kilometers from near lake Sangiin Dalai Nuur in Hovsgol Aimag west to the Khangiltsag river headwaters in the Khan-Khukhii Range. Many faults are active in Mongolia -probably the best in the world for studying the surface effects of powerful faults on mountains, rivers, streams and soils, not only due to extreme violence of the faults but also the rare combination of aridity and permafrost which enhances the rupturing and ensure the preservation of tell-tale surface features.
Animals
In Mongolia, nature has preserved it's virginity over vast areas. This fact, so uncommon in our age, can be explained by the relatively late onset of industrialization and the low density of the population (1.6 per sq. km). as well as by the natural environment. The latter is proven among other thing by the fact that the mountain range, at the foot of which lies Mongolia's capital, was proclaimed a protected territory nearly 200 years ago. The steppes in the east and west are splendid pastures. The grass cover is rather diverse. Patches of salty soil are typical of the steppe zone. Mongolia is the habitat of 140 mammal species, 390 bird, 20 reptile and 76 fish species. In the wooded northern regions maral and roe are common, northern deer and musk deer occur less frequently while wild boar can be found everywhere. Of the fur bearing predators, glutton, fox, corsac, lunx, ermine, Siberian weasel, less, commonly, sable are to be found here. In the past few years, the population of wolves has shown a marked increase. Wolves invade both the steppe and the forest-steppe zones. One may come across brown bears in coniferous forests in some regions and snow leopards in the Gobi Altai. In the steppe zone, the graceful dzeren antelope can be found. The most widespread denizen of the Mongolian steppes and plateaus is the tarbagan marmot. Its flesh is tender and highly palatable and its fur, especially that of the Altai species, is highly rated on the world marked. Representatives of such rare species as the khavtgai wild camel, the wild ass, the mazalai bear and the black-tailed antelope inhabit the Gobi region. In some mountain regions and in the Gobi you may come across the argali mountain ram and the yangir mountain goat. The world of birds is rather varied. The forests are inhabited by mountain ouzel, blackbirds, wood grouse and black grouse, the rivers and laked abound in water-fowl, including the white swan, the pelican and the cormorant. The grey crone and the bustard are common on the steppes and on the shores of the lakes. In the high altitude Altai regions the ular snow cock can be found. The flesh of this bird has curative properties. The eagle, the white-tailed sea eagle, the hawk, the falcon, the harrier and the black griffon represent birds of prey. Mongolia's rivers are a paradise for anglers. There is practically no commercial fishing in the country and the rivers and lakes teem with salmon trout, sturgeon, greenfish, grayling and other valuable fish species. lake khovsgol and some northern rivers abound in white salmon, while in the Balj and the Onon there are trout. One cannot say, however, that Mongolia has no environmental problems. In 1987, the first national Red Data Book was published; a second edition was released in 1997. It provides a scientific basis for the government's nature conservation policy, listing 50 rare animals species and some 70-plant species, which are on the verge of extinction. Among the animals listed in the Red Data Book are the mazalai bear of the Gobi; the takho (Prjewalski horse); the Mongol saiga; the khavtgai wild camel, the Mongolian wild ass; the Ussuri elk; the red wolf, the irbis (snow leopard) and the Altai mountain ram. Among the guelder rose; Zaisan sexaul; Daur juniper and Mongolian adonis.
Climate
Known as "the land of blue sky", Mongolia is a remarkable sunny country enjoying over 250 sunny days in a year. Mongolia has warm summers and extremely cold winters. The country has the world's most typical continental climate with extreme diurnal and annual ranges of temperature. Average temperature in most of the country is below the freezing point from November to March and close to it in April and October. Winter nights of -30C occur most years (minimum recorded -55C at lake Uvs). Summer extremes reach as high as +40C in the Gobi Desert and +30C in Ulaanbaatar. Monthly temperature variations of +45C to -55C are not uncommon in many regions of Mongolia. There are 4 seasons in Mongolia. In the spring time /between mid Feb and beginnin of June/ it is quite cool, dusty and windy. But in the summer time /From June until September/, it is warm, hot and rainy. In the automn season /from September until November/ it is cool, sunny, and not rainy. In the winter time /between November and February/ it is cold and snowy. Average temperature in Mongolia:
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