Geography of Mongolia
In 1845, the Russian Geographic Society was founded to begin studies in other countries, including Mongolia's geography, flora, and fauna. This marked the start of scientific research that highlighted the distinctiveness of Mongolia's land, environment, and natural resources. Scholar M. P. Girs, a member of this society, visited Mongolia and later shared his findings in his book, "Prejevalsky's Travels in Mongolia." Following this, other researchers continued studying the region's unique aspects, including G. Potanin, who, between 1876 and 1889, referred to the Altai Mountains and the "Five Rivers of the Altai" as the "Potanin Main Rivers."
Subsequent research in Mongolia further explored the region's ancient history, leading scholars like P.K. Kozlov to discover remnants of 13th-century Mongolian culture. Kozlov’s team worked in the Noian Uul area, where they conducted archaeological studies in the early 20th century, contributing greatly to the Mongolian national geographic atlas developed in the 1930s by D. Simukov.
Mongolian Geographic Data
With a land area of 1,566,500 square kilometers, Mongolia ranks 6th in Asia and 18th worldwide. It has a population density ranking 105th globally. Mongolia's highest point, the Khüiten Peak, is in the Altai Mountain range, reaching 4,374 meters, while the lowest point is at Khövgöl Lake in the northeast, lying at 518 meters above sea level. The country is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, west, and east.
Mongolian Geography Reference
The region is an extension of Siberia in Russia and covers the northern part of Mongolia. It accounts for 8.1% of the country's total area and is home to 146 species of trees and shrubs. The steppe region extends across the northern area and is generally a lowland. It spans 150-200 km in width and more than 300 km in length. The lowest point near the eastern border, the Khukh Nuur (Blue Lake) basin, is situated 560 meters above sea level. The desert-steppe region covers 40% of the country’s area. It includes major plant species such as saxaul, tamarisk, Nitraria, and Allium plants. Mongolia’s Gobi Desert is the fifth largest desert in the world and the largest desert in Asia.
Mongolia has an average elevation of 1580 meters above sea level. It is bordered by Siberia’s vast forests in the north, the Khangai Mountains in the center, the Khentii Mountains in the northeast, and the Altai Mountains in the northwest. The country receives an average of 200-220 mm of precipitation annually, mostly in summer. The western part of Mongolia is home to the Altai Mountains, with the Khangai Mountains in the central region and the Khentii Mountains in the northeast. There are over 10 peaks covered with eternal snow, with elevations above 4000 meters.
The highest provincial center is Altai City, located at an altitude of 2160 meters above sea level. The highest district is Duut district in Khovd province, at 2400 meters. The lowest provincial center is Sukhbaatar City, at 626 meters above sea level, while the lowest district is Ereentsav in Dornod province, at 600 meters above sea level.
Mongolian Geographic Highlights:
In winter, Mongolia serves as the center of high atmospheric pressure for the Northern Hemisphere. The basin around Khyargas Lake in Uvs province is recognized in geographical science as the center of the Asian high-pressure zone. Ulaangom, located in this area, experiences atmospheric pressure as high as 1055 hectopascals in January. No other place in the world has such a central pressure point.
The northernmost sand dunes in the world are the Boorog Deliin Els (Boorog Sand Dunes) in the Züüngovi district of Uvs province. The northern edge of these dunes extends to a latitude of 50.18°N, making them parallel with southern Canada and comparable to the southern shore of Hudson Bay in the Arctic Ocean.
This translation captures all of the information from the original Mongolian text in English. Let me know if you need any additional modifications!
Reference on Mongolia
The southernmost point of the permafrost in the northern hemisphere reaches the territory of Mongolia, specifically in the Erdenetsogt sum of Bayankhongor province, around the Daragt Mountain, which lies at 46.17 degrees north latitude, on par with the northern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Böörögdöy sand dunes mark the southern edge of the permafrost, and the distance between them is about 700 kilometers. There is no other place in the world where a desert and permafrost so clearly converge at such a small distance as in Mongolia.
Tsogtnarandam Mountain, at the edge of the Khentii range, is an important watershed in the world. It extends 80 kilometers and separates the water drainage basins of three major seas: the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the inner continental areas of Asia. This mountain stands at 1,845 meters and is a major hydrological divide.
West of the Sanjin Dalai Lake in Khuvsgul province and extending towards Uvs province's Khankhukhii Mountains, the Hangiilgastai River stretches for over 350 kilometers. This area is renowned for its visible fault line, created by one of the world’s most powerful earthquakes in 1905. The fracture, in places, is as deep as 60 meters and 10 meters wide.
Two important global geodetic lines—the 45th parallel north and the 90th meridian east—cross through Mongolia, marking significant locations for global measurements.
Earthquakes:
Mongolia is situated in an active seismic zone. Gobi-Altai province is especially prone to earthquakes, experiencing between 70 to 140 tremors annually, with 2-4 of them being felt by the population. Historical records show that in the 13th century, a strong earthquake left a mark on Chinggis Khan’s writings, describing “molten rocks spewing from the mountains, with fire and hot lava flooding down.” In 1570, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 to 8 occurred near Egiin Pass. In 1905, a major quake struck the Khangai and Bulnai mountain ranges, resulting in a fracture extending over 350 kilometers. On December 4, 1957, another earthquake shook the region of Govi-Altai, causing significant human and livestock casualties. In 1967, a 7 to 8 magnitude quake was recorded in Bulgan province's Mogod sum. A more recent event occurred in 1988 in Dundgovi province’s Deren sum, which was felt as far away as Ulaanbaatar.
Extinct Volcanoes:
Mongolia is home to approximately 400 extinct volcanoes, with the largest number (220) located in Sukhbaatar province’s Dariganga sum. One of the most interesting is the Halh Soum Lava Hill, which is in Dariganga. One of the most recently extinct volcanoes is in Arkhangai province’s Khorgo. The tallest volcanic peaks in Mongolia are located in the Ikh and Baga Bogd range, with the highest peak, Jaran Bogd, standing at 2,607 meters.
Caves:
There are over 1,000 caves in Mongolia, with around 200 considered significant. The largest cave is Taliin Agui, located 14 kilometers north of Shiliin Bogd Mountain in Sukhbaatar province’s Dariganga sum. Some of the most famous caves are found in Khuvsgul province’s Tsagaan-Uur sum.
Reference on Mongolia
The Dayan Derkhiin Cave, with over ten rooms, located in Bayanlig sum of Bayankhongor province, is known for the ancient artifacts and relics left by early humans. Tsagaan Cave in Khovd province’s Manhan sum, located 25 km from the center, also contains ancient rock paintings from the Old Stone Age period. Additionally, Khökh Tsenkher Cave is another significant site from this era. For more detailed information about these caves, refer to the “Natural and Historical Landmarks of Mongolia” section.
The Highest Peaks in Mongolia:
Altai Tavan Bogd’s Khüiten Peak, 4,374 meters, Bayan-Ölgii province
Mönkhkhairkhan Range’s Tavan Khumst, 4,362 meters, Khovd province
Altai Tavan Bogd’s Naran Peak, 4,285 meters, Bayan-Ölgii province
Altai Tavan Bogd’s Nairamdal Peak, 4,192 meters, Bayan-Ölgii province
Darvi Range’s Sutai Peak, 4,152 meters, Govi-Altai and Bayan-Ölgii provinces
Altai Tavan Bogd’s Bürged Peak, 4,068 meters, Govi-Altai and Khovd provinces
Khangai Range’s Malchin Peak, 4,051 meters, Bayan-Ölgii province
Altai Tavan Bogd’s Otgontenger Peak, 4,021 meters, Zavkhan province
Siilkhem Range’s Turgun Peak, 4,021 meters, Bayan-Ölgii province
Mongol Altai Range, Ikh Turgenei National Park’s Öndör Khairkhan, 3,984 meters, Bayan-Ölgii province
Kharkhiraa and Türgen National Park’s Tsagaan Deglii, 3,965 meters, Uvs province
Tsengel Khairkhan, 3,943 meters, Bayan-Ölgii province
Buyant Mountain, 3,661 meters, Bayan-Ölgii province
Mongol Altai Range’s Rashaan Mountain, 3,628 meters, Bayan-Ölgii province
Sayan Range’s Mönkh Saridag, 3,491 meters, Khuvsgul province
Sair Mountain, 3,081 meters, Bayan-Ölgii province
The Vast Gobi Deserts of Mongolia:
Borzon Gobi – Bayan-Ovoo and Nomgon sums of Ömnögovi province
Borkhoin Gobi – Bulgan, Altai, and Üench sums of Khovd province
Galbiin Gobi – Khanbogd sum of Ömnögovi province
Guriliin Gobi – Gurvantes sum of Ömnögovi province
Davasaan Khurda’s Gobi – Bulgan and Altai sums of Khovd province
Doloodoin Gobi – Örgön sum of Dornogovi province
Elkhon Gobi – Altai and Üench sums of Khovd province
Zag Uul Waterway’s Gobi – Ölziit sum of Dundgovi province
Zag, Sükhii Gobi – Nomgon sum of Ömnögovi province
Zagtstain Gobi – Altai sum of Govi-Altai province
Zakhui Zamar Gobi – Gurvantes sum of Ömnögovi province
Zeezegiin Gobi – Bayan-Ovoo and Nomgon sums of Ömnögovi province
Zagishin Gobi – Shinjinst sum of Ömnögovi province and Gurvantes sum of Ömnögovi province
Ingen Khuuvriin Gobi – Shinejinst sum of Bayankhongor province, Gurvantes sum of Ömnögovi province
Lantsatiin Gobi – Bayangovi sum of Bayan-Öndör province
Manhan Valley’s Gobi – Manhan sum of Khovd province
Modon Ovoon’s Gobi – Ölziit sum of Dundgovi province
Naransavstiin Gobi – Tsogt, Erdene sums of Govi-Altai province
Nariin Khökhii Gobi – Bayan-Öndör sum of Bayankhongor province
Nomingiin Gobi – Altai sum of Govi-Altai province
Otgony Gobi – Altai sum of Govi-Altai province
Ööshiin Gobi – Khalzan and Bayandelger sums of Sukhbaatar province
Taliin Gobi – Altai and Tsogt sums of Govi-Altai province
Ulaan Shaltyn Gobi – Bayankhongor and Govi-Altai provinces
Kharmaltai Gobi – Khatanbulag sum of Dornogovi province
Khar Sairyn Gobi – Tsogt sum of Govi-Altai province
Khonin Usny Gobi – Altai and Üench sums of Khovd province
Khüisiin Gobi – Khökhmorit sum of Govi-Altai province
Tsenkherkhoiin Gobi – Bayan-Öndör sum of Bayankhongor province
Shaliin Gobi – Tsogt and Erdene sums of Govi-Altai province
Sharaldain Gobi – Altai sum of Govi-Altai province
Shargyn Gobi – Sharga sum of Govi-Altai province
