Taiga zone of Mongolia. Climate of Mongolia

Basic moments

Hundreds of kilometers of land separate Mongolia from the nearest seas. This is the second largest country on the planet after Kazakhstan, which does not have access to the oceans. Mongolia is also known for being the most sparsely populated among all sovereign states in the world, and its main city, Ulaanbaatar, is one of the coldest capitals along with Reykjavik, Helsinki, and Ottawa. But, despite such alarming records, the mysterious and original Mongolia does not cease to attract travelers. The birthplace of Genghis Khan is famous for its rich cultural and historical heritage, fantastic landscapes, diverse landscapes. Mongolia is called "Land forever blue sky”, because the sun shines here for more than 250 days a year.

The country has 22 national parks, most of them have a well-developed tourist infrastructure. By protected areas roads, hiking trails are laid, campsites, souvenir shops, cafes, bird and animal watching sites are equipped for tourists. In each of the parks, travelers are offered their own unique destinations and excursion programs. In Ulaanbaatar and Kharkhorin, which stands on the site of the ancient Mongolian capital, one can see monuments of Buddhist and Chinese architecture of world significance, in mountain caves along the rivers there are rock paintings by primitive artists, in the Mongolian steppes one can find stone steles with weathered images of ancient gods everywhere.

Tourists willingly go to Mongolia, who like adventure and exotic. They go to the desert or climb mountains, travel on horseback and camels. The range of active sports entertainment is very wide - from rafting to mountain rivers before paragliding. Ecologically clean reservoirs of Mongolia, where salmon, whitefish, sturgeon are found - the dream of lovers of nice fishing. There are separate programs in Mongolia for those who want to go on a yoga tour or hunt with a golden eagle.

All cities of Mongolia

History of Mongolia

Tribes of primitive people began to populate the territory of modern Mongolia at least 800,000 years ago, and scientists attribute traces of Homo sapiens to these lands to the 40th millennium BC. e. Archaeological excavations show that the nomadic way of life, which determined the history, culture, traditions of the Mongols, established itself in these lands in 3500-2500 BC. e., when people reduced the cultivation of scarce land to a minimum, giving preference to nomadic pastoralism.

AT different times, right up to the early Middle Ages, on the Mongolian lands they replaced, pushed back and partially assimilated with each other the tribes of the Huns, Xianbi, Juan, ancient Turks, Uighurs, Khitans. Each of these peoples contributed to the formation of the Mongolian ethnic group, as well as the language - the Mongol-speaking of the ancient Khitans was authentically confirmed. The ethnonym "Mongol" in the form "mengu" or "mengu-li" first appeared in the Chinese historical annals of the Tang dynasty (7th-10th centuries AD). The Chinese gave this name to the "barbarians" who roamed near their northern borders, and it probably corresponded to the self-name of the tribes themselves.

By the end of the 12th century, on vast lands stretching from the Great Wall of China to Southern Siberia and from the upper reaches of the Irtysh to the Amur, numerous tribal tribes united in unions roamed. At the beginning of the 13th century, Khan Temujin, who belonged to the ancient Mongol clan Borjigin, managed to unite most of these tribes under his rule. In 1206, at a kurultai - a congress of the Mongol nobility - other khans recognized Temujin's supremacy over themselves, proclaiming him the great kagan. The supreme ruler took the name Genghis. He became famous as the founder of the most extensive continental empire in the history of mankind, which extended its power over most of Eurasia.

Genghis Khan swiftly carried out a series of reforms to centralize power, created a powerful army and introduced strict discipline into it. Already in 1207, the Mongols conquered the peoples of Siberia, and in 1213 they invaded the territory of the Chinese state of Jin. In the first quarter of the 13th century, Northern China, Central Asia, the territories of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Armenia were under the rule of the Mongol Empire. In 1223, the Mongols appeared in the Black Sea steppes, on the Kalka River they crushed the combined Russian-Polovtsian troops. The Mongols pursued the surviving warriors to the Dnieper, invading the territory of Russia. Having studied the future theater of operations, they returned to Central Asia.

After the death of Genghis Khan in 1227, the unity of the Mongol Empire began to acquire only a nominal character. Its territory was divided into four uluses - the hereditary possessions of the sons of the great conqueror. Each of the uluses gravitated towards independence, only formally retaining subordination to the central region with its capital in Karakorum. In the future, Mongolia was ruled by the direct descendants of Genghis Khan - the Genghisids, who bore the titles of great khans. The names of many of them are imprinted on the pages of history books that tell about the times of the Mongol-Tatar occupation of Russia.

In 1260, Genghis Khan's grandson Kublai Khan became the Great Khan. Having conquered the Middle Kingdom, he proclaimed himself the Chinese emperor, the founder of the Yuan dynasty. On the lands conquered by the Mongols, Khubilai established a strict administrative order and introduced a strict system of taxes, but the ever-increasing exactions caused more and more resistance from the conquered peoples. After a powerful anti-Mongol uprising in China (1378), the Yuan dynasty was defeated. Chinese troops invaded the territory of Mongolia and burned its capital, Karakorum. At the same time, the Mongols began to lose their positions in the West. In the middle of the XIV century, the star of a new great conqueror rose - Timur Tamerlane, who defeated the Golden Horde in Central Asia. In 1380, on the Kulikovo field, Russian squads, led by Dmitry Donskoy, utterly defeated the Golden Horde, initiating the deliverance of Russia from the Mongol-Tatar yoke.

At the end of the 14th century, federalization processes intensified in feudal Mongolia. The collapse of the empire dragged on for 300 years, and as a result, three large ethnic formations were outlined on its territory, which in turn were divided into several khanates. In the 30s of the 17th century, the Manchu Qing dynasty, ruling in Northeast China, began to claim Mongolian lands. The first to be conquered were the southern Mongol khanates (now Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of China), the last to fall under the rule of the Qing dynasty was the Dzungar Khanate, which resisted until 1758.

After the Xinhai Revolution (1911), which destroyed the Qing Empire, a national liberation movement unfolded throughout the former Mongol Empire, which led to the creation of a feudal-theocratic state - the Bogd Khan Mongolia. It consistently had the status of an independent power, a protectorate Russian Empire, autonomy within China, whose ruler was the Buddhist leader Bogdo Gegen XVIII. In 1919, the Chinese annulled the autonomy, but two years later they were ousted from Urga (today Ulaanbaatar) by the division of the Russian General Ungern-Sternberg. The White Guards, in turn, were defeated by the troops of the Red Army. A People's Government was created in Urga, the power of the Bogd Gegen was limited, and after his death in 1924, Mongolia was proclaimed People's Republic. Until the end of World War II, only the USSR recognized its sovereignty.

Most of Mongolia is a vast plateau located at an altitude of 1000 m with mountain ranges, steppe expanses, and hilly valleys. The western lands are divided by a continuous chain of valleys and basins into mountainous regions - the Mongolian Altai with the highest point of the country, the city of Munkh-Khairkhan-Ula (4362 m), the Gobi Altai and Khangai, bounded in the south by the semi-desert Valley of Lakes, and in the West - by the Basin of the Big Lakes. In the northeast of Mongolia, near the border with Russia, the Khentei highlands are located. Its northern spurs stretch in Transbaikalia, and the southwestern ones, descending to the central part of the country, surround its capital - Ulaanbaatar. The southern regions of Mongolia are occupied by the rocky Gobi Desert. Administratively, the country is divided into 21 aimags, the capital has the status of an independent unit.

A quarter of the territory of Mongolia is covered by mountain steppes and forests. This belt, covering mainly the Khangai-Khentei and Altai mountainous regions, as well as a small territory of the Khangan region, is the most favorable for life and, accordingly, the best developed region. In the steppe regions, people are engaged in agriculture, grazing livestock. In the floodplains of the rivers, water meadows with high forbs are often used as hayfields. The northern moist slopes of the mountains are covered with forests, mostly deciduous. The banks of the rivers are bordered by narrow stripes mixed forests where poplar, willow, bird cherry, sea buckthorn, birch predominate.

Marals, elk, roe deer, deer are found in the forests, brown bears, as well as fur-bearing animals - lynxes, wolverines, manuls, squirrels. There are many wolves, foxes, hares, wild boars in the mountain-steppe regions, ungulates live in the steppe, in particular gazelle antelopes, marmots, birds of prey, partridges.

Full-flowing rivers are born in the mountains. The largest of them is the Selenga (1024 km), which crosses Mongolia, then flows within Russian Buryatia and flows into Lake Baikal. Another large river - Kerulen (1254 km) - carries its waters to Lake Dalainor (Gulun-Nur), located in China. There are more than a thousand lakes on the territory of Mongolia, their number increases during the rainy season, but shallow seasonal reservoirs soon dry up. 400 km west of Ulaanbaatar, in a tectonic depression in the region of the Khangai Mountains, there is a large lake Khuvsgulcollecting the waters of 96 tributaries. This mountain lake lies at an altitude of 1646 m, its depth reaches 262 m. In terms of the composition of the water and the presence of a unique relict fauna, Lake Khubsugul is similar to Baikal, from which it is only 200 km away. The water temperature in the lake varies between +10...+14 °C.

Climate

Mongolia, located in the depths of the mainland, is characterized by a sharp continental climate with long and extremely cold winters, short hot summers, capricious springs, dry air and incredible temperature changes. Precipitation is rare here, most of it falls in the summer. Winters in Mongolia have little or no snow, rare snowfalls are considered a natural disaster, as they do not allow livestock to get to feed in the steppe. The absence of snow cover cools the bare ground and leads to the formation of permafrost patches in northern regions countries. It is worth saying that nowhere else on the planet in similar latitudes is permafrost found. The rivers and lakes of Mongolia are frozen over in winter, many reservoirs literally freeze to the bottom. They are free from ice for less than six months, from May to September.

In winter, the whole country falls under the influence of the Siberian anticyclone. This is where the atmospheric pressure is high. Weak winds rarely blow, they do not bring clouds. At this time, the sun reigns in the sky from morning to evening, illuminating and somewhat warming snowless cities, towns and pastures. average temperature January, the coldest month, varies from -15°C in the south to -35°C in the northwest. In mountain hollows, frosty air stagnates, and thermometers sometimes record a temperature of -50 ° C.

AT warm time years are approaching Mongolia air masses Atlantic. True, overcoming a long journey over land, they waste their moisture. Its remains go mainly to the mountains, especially their northern and western slopes. The least rain falls in the desert region of the Gobi. Summer in the country is warm, with an average daily temperature from north to south from +15 °С to +26 °С. In the Gobi Desert, the air temperature can exceed +50 °С; in this corner of the planet, characterized by an extreme climate, the amplitude of summer and winter temperatures is 113 °С.

Spring weather in Mongolia is extremely unstable. The air at this time becomes extremely dry, the winds carrying sand and dust sometimes reach the strength of a hurricane. Temperature fluctuations for short period can be tens of degrees. Autumn here, on the contrary, is everywhere quiet, warm, sunny, but it lasts until the first days of November, the arrival of which marks the beginning of winter.

Culture and traditions

Mongolia is a mono-ethnic country. About 95% of its population are Mongols, a little less than 5% are peoples of Turkic origin who speak dialects of the Mongolian language, a small part are Chinese, Russians. The culture of the Mongols was originally formed under the influence of a nomadic lifestyle, later it was strongly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism.

Throughout the history of Mongolia, shamanism has been widely practiced here - an ethnic religion widespread among the nomads of Central Asia. Gradually, shamanism gave way to Tibetan Buddhism; this religion became official at the end of the 16th century. The first Buddhist temple was built here in 1586, and by the beginning of the 1930s there were more than 800 monasteries and about 3,000 temples in the country. During the years of militant atheism, religious buildings were closed or destroyed, thousands of monks were executed. In the 1990s, after the fall of communism, traditional religions began to revive. Tibetan Buddhism has returned to its dominant position, but shamanism continues to be practiced. The peoples of Turkic origin living here traditionally profess Islam.

Before the reign of Genghis Khan, there was no written language in Mongolia. The oldest work of Mongolian literature was " secret history Mongols" (or "Secret Legend"), dedicated to the formation of the clan of the great conqueror. It was written after his death, in the first half of the 13th century. Old Mongolian writing, created on the basis of the alphabet borrowed from the Uighurs, existed with some changes until the middle of the 20th century. Today in Mongolia, the Cyrillic alphabet is used, which differs from the Russian alphabet by two letters: Ө and Y.

Mongolian music was formed under the influence of nature, nomadic lifestyle, shamanism, Buddhism. The symbol of the Mongolian nation is the traditional stringed musical instrument morin khur, the head of its neck is made in the form of a horse's head. Long, melodic Mongolian music usually accompanies solo singing. Praised in epic national songs motherland or a favorite horse, lyrical motifs sound, as a rule, at weddings or at family celebrations. Throat and overtone singing is also famous, which, with the help of a special breathing technique, creates the impression that the performer has two voices. Tourists are introduced to this original art form during ethnographic excursions.

The nomadic way of life of the Mongols found its expression in the local architecture. In the 16th-17th centuries, Buddhist temples were designed as rooms with six and twelve corners under a pyramidal roof, resembling the shape of a yurt, the traditional dwelling of the Mongols. Later, temples began to be built in the Tibetan and Chinese architectural traditions. The yurts themselves - mobile collapsible tent houses with a frame covered with felt felt, are still housing for 40% of the country's population. Their doors are still turned to the south - to the warmth, and in the northern, most honorable side of the yurt, they are always ready to welcome the guest.

The hospitality of the Mongols is legendary. According to one of them, Genghis Khan bequeathed to his people to always welcome travelers. And today, in the Mongolian steppes, nomads never refuse lodging and food to strangers. And the Mongols are very patriotic and united. It seems that they are all one big friendly family. They treat each other with warmth, calling strangers“sister”, “brother”, demonstrating that respectful relationships instilled in the family extend beyond its borders.

Visa

All sights of Mongolia

Central Mongolia

In the middle of the Tuva (Central) aimag, the main city of the country, Ulaanbaatar, and its administratively subordinate territories are located as an enclave. Almost half of the population of Mongolia lives here. This bright original city, surrounded by a dense ring of yurts, impresses with its contrasts. High-rise buildings coexist here with ancient Buddhist monasteries, modern skyscrapers - with faceless buildings of the times of socialism. The best hotels are located in the capital, shopping centers, restaurants, nightclubs, national amusement park.

The city has many monuments dedicated to national heroes and masterpieces of religious architecture. The architectural symbol of Ulaanbaatar is the Gandan monastery, where 600 monks live permanently and religious ceremonies are held daily. The main attraction of the temple is a 26-meter statue of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, one of the most revered representatives of the Buddhist pantheon, covered with gold leaf. The Chinese architectural tradition is represented by the Bogd Gegen palace complex. The last ruler of Mongolia lived here until 1924.

In the bowels of the modern city, behind a palisade of skyscrapers, the beautiful temple complex of Choijin-lamyn-sum (Choyjin Lama Temple) hides. It includes several buildings, one of which houses the Museum of Tibetan-Mongolian religious art. There are about a dozen excellent museums with rich collections in Ulaanbaatar. The most famous of them are the National Museum of the History of Mongolia, the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Fine Arts.

The near and far neighborhoods of Ulaanbaatar are incredibly picturesque, where national parks are located surrounded by mountains. Among them, the most famous Bogd-Khan-Uulsurrounding the mountain of the same name. In its gorge, according to legend, the young Genghis Khan hid from his enemies. Runs through the park walking route, leading to the top of the mountain, from where a spectacular panorama of Ulaanbaatar opens.

From the capital of Buryatia Ulan-Ude to Ulaanbaatar buses depart daily. Departure - at 07:00, arrival at the station at the railway station of Ulaanbaatar - at 20:00. The bus goes through the Mongolian cities of Sukhe Bator and Darkhan.

Tourists from other countries do not often consider these places as a place to spend their holidays, in vain, geography of mongolia able to surprise many. The nature in these parts is amazingly beautiful. The picturesque charming view of the taiga forests won many hearts.

The total area of ​​the country is 1566 thousand km²; is one of the 20 largest countries in the world. Here is one of the largest deserts in the world - the Gobi. Most of the local rivers originate from mountain peaks, open access to the sea, the country does not have. On the territory of Mongolia there are about a thousand lakes of various sizes, some of which appear only during the rainy season.

Time of Mongolia

The country is relatively small, separated by two time zones: UTC+7 and UTC+8. From mid-2015, according to the amendments, in spring time year, the country will switch to daylight saving time.

Climate of Mongolia

The state is located in Central Asia, therefore it is sharply continental. summer months characterized by hot dry weather, winter severe frosts. During the year, there are about 250 sunny days. Mongolia, surrounded by mountains, is forced to put up with drought, the peaks do not allow moist air masses to pass deep into the country, so precipitation is rare here.

Mongolia weather

Unusual, slightly different in its severity. In summer, it is stuffy and hot here, it is not uncommon for sandstorms. In July, the thermometer rises to +25 °C. In the central regions of the Gobi desert, the air temperature can reach +40 °C. In January, the coldest month of the year, the average temperature is -15°C. Basic tourist season, runs from early May to mid-October. At that time Mongolia, as never open and welcoming to tourists.

Mongolian nature

Amazing beauty, remained in the memory of many people. Beautiful blue lakes, endless deserts and steppes, snow-capped snow-white mountain ranges and peaks, small colorful oases, virgin, untouched by man, is one of the treasures. Thanks to such natural wealth, Mongolia tourism slowly but surely developing. interesting geography The country has served well, now thanks to its many advantages, Mongolia attracts the views of vacationers from all over the world.

INFORMATION FOR TOURISTS

MONGOLIAN FLORA

Mongolia is located at the junction of the taiga regions of Siberia and the deserts of Central Asia, which leads to the formation of specific natural ecosystems. In terms of the totality of all environmental conditions, Mongolia is very peculiar: this is due to its inland position, the history of the formation of the territory, a high hypsometric level and a bizarre combination of mountains, plains and intermountain depressions. There is a significant contrast natural factors in different parts of the country. The territory of Mongolia is vast: the length from north to south is more than 1200 kilometers, from west to east - 2368 km. Highlands, mountain-taiga zone, forest-steppe zone, steppe zone, semi-desert and desert zones stand out in a variety of landscapes.

Mountains occupy almost 2/3 of the country, and some peaks are covered with eternal snow and exceed 4000 m above sea level, there are glaciers. There are more than 3,000 permanent lakes with fresh and salt water in the intermountain basins and valleys. In the north, in the Khentei mountains and in the Khubsugul region, mountain taiga dominates, located on the southern border of the taiga zone. Eastern Siberia. The vast mountain ranges Khangai, Mongolian Altai, the western slope of Khingan and the southern periphery of Khentei are occupied by mountain steppe and forest-steppe in lower areas. These landscapes, which are generally zonal, are located at an altitude of more than 1000 m above sea level. seas. An intermediate position is occupied by the high plains of Eastern Mongolia, occupied by steppe vegetation. And, finally, the southern regions of the country should be attributed to the zone of desert steppes, which merge in the extreme south with the zone of sharply continental deserts of Central Asia.

The territory of Mongolia is dominated by a temperate sharply continental climate with precipitation of 100 mm or less in deserts, 100–200 mm in semi-deserts, and up to 600 mm in the Khentei and Altai mountains. Average temperatures in July are relatively low - +20–25°С, in January - 8...30°С. Over the past 60 years, the average annual air temperature in the country has increased by 1.56°. According to the calculations of the Institute of Meteorology of the Academy of Sciences, it will continue to increase further, by 2020 by 1.4°, by 2050 by 3.0° and by 2080 by 5.1°.

The world watershed passes through Mongolia: in the south lies the region of drainless basins and lakes of Central Asia. Mongolia, representing a transitional region from the Siberian taiga to the deserts of Central Asia, shows all the signs of such a transition both in flora and fauna, with Daurian elements predominating in the north of the country, Central Asian elements in the south, and a noticeable influence of Manchurian species is noted in the east. Forests occupy only 8.1% of the total area of ​​the country and are located on the southern border of the Siberian taiga region. They protect soils from dryness and erosion, regulate water flow. The tree flora includes over 140 species of trees and shrubs.

The vegetation of Mongolia is very diverse and is a mixture of mountain, steppe and desert with inclusions of the Siberian taiga in the northern regions. Under the influence of the mountainous relief, the latitudinal zonality of the vegetation cover is replaced by a vertical one, so deserts can be found next to forests. Forests along the slopes of the mountains are far to the south, in the vicinity of dry steppes, and deserts and semi-deserts are along plains and hollows far to the north.

The natural vegetation of Mongolia corresponds to local climatic conditions. The mountains in the northwestern part of the country are covered with forests of larch, pine, cedar, and various deciduous tree species. There are magnificent pastures in wide intermountain basins. river valleys have fertile soil, the rivers themselves abound with fish. As you move to the southeast, with a decrease in altitude, the density of vegetation gradually decreases and reaches the level of the Gobi desert region, where only in spring and early summer do some types of grasses and shrubs appear. The vegetation of the north and northeast of Mongolia is incomparably richer, since these areas with higher mountains account for a greater amount of precipitation. In general, the composition of the flora and fauna of Mongolia is very diverse. The nature of Mongolia is beautiful and diverse. In the direction from north to south, six natural belts and zones are successively replaced here. The high-altitude belt is located to the north and west of Lake Khubsugul, on the Khentei and Khangai ridges, in the mountains of the Mongolian Altai. The mountain-taiga belt passes in the same place, below the alpine meadows. The zone of mountain steppes and forests in the Khangai-Khentei mountainous region is the most favorable for human life and is the most developed in terms of the development of agriculture. The largest in size is the steppe zone with its variety of grasses and wild cereals, most suitable for cattle breeding. In the floodplains of the rivers, water meadows are not uncommon.

Currently, 2823 species of vascular plants from 662 genera and 128 families, 445 species of bryophytes, 930 species of lichens (133 genera, 39 families), 900 species of fungi (136 genera, 28 families), 1236 species of algae (221 genera, 60 families). Among them, 845 kinds of medicinal herbs are used in Mongolian medicine, 68 kinds of soil strengthening and 120 kinds of edible plants. There are now 128 species of herbs listed as endangered and endangered and listed in the Red Book of Mongolia.

The Mongolian fora can be conditionally divided into three ecosystems: - grass and shrubs(52% of the earth's surface), the woods(15%) and desert vegetation(32%). Cultural crops make up less than 1% of the territory of Mongolia.

THE WOODS

About 8-10% of the territory of Mongolia is covered with forests, the total area of ​​which reaches 120-150 thousand square kilometers. Forests grow, as a rule, along the northern and northwestern slopes of the mountains. In the north of Khentei and Lake. Khubsugul has areas of real mountain taiga. Forests include about 140 varieties of trees, bushes and treelike plants. From tree species more than 70% of the total reserves are accounted for by Siberian larch and 12% by cedar, spruce and fir are less common. Pine forests are concentrated mainly around the Selenga. Growing in the river valleys hardwoods: poplar, birch, aspen, ash, from shrubs - willow, wild rosemary, bird cherry, hawthorn, honeysuckle, willow. Above the forest border there is an alpine zone with mixed grass meadows and creeping forms of juniper, birch, and willow.

The natural regeneration of Mongolian forests is slow and the forests are often destroyed by fire, insects and human activities. Wood is mainly used as a source of fuel (larch, pine, birch, saxaul). In the north of the country, trees are cut down for construction needs. There are whole illegal groups specializing in the supply of trunks of young trees (up to 10 cm in diameter) for use in casting ceilings in construction. These groups operate mainly as follows: during the day, separate groups of citizens cut wood, saw it into small chocks (about 2 meters long) and store it. At night, under the cover of darkness, small trucks transport timber. As a rule, cars are covered with a tarpaulin so that the cargo being transported cannot be seen.

STEPPE

The steppe regions of Eastern Mongolia and the western part of the country are excellent pastures. The herbaceous cover is extremely diverse; the leading place belongs to feather grass-grass and wormwood-grass plants (feather grass, vostrets, wheatgrass, thin-legged, serpentine, wheatgrass, fescue). In the steppe zone, karagana shrubs are often found. For steppe zone the presence of solonchak areas is characteristic, with typical plants for them: derisun, Mongolian feather grass, late snake, saltpeter and saltwort. The presence of derisun means the presence of water.

DESERT

The Gobi is a special type of desert steppe, the border of which begins 500 kilometers south of Ulaanbaatar and is characterized by the appearance of shrubs, brown soils and the disappearance of steppe animals - voles and tarbagans.

In the Mongolian language, the word "gobi" is a common noun, denoting semi-desert steppes with saline vegetation. It is wrong to identify the Gobi with the desert, since only small areas of the Gobi are covered with sand and do not at all resemble either the Kazakh steppes or the Kara Kum, and even more so the Sahara. The Gobi is not a lifeless desert, but a grassy steppe, crossed by hills, hollows and ridges. The vegetation of the Gobi is poor, saxaul grows in the semi-desert zone, and squat elm grows along the banks of dry channels.

MEDICINAL PLANTS

Flora of Mongolia is very rich in medicinal and fruit plants. In the valleys and in the undergrowth of deciduous forests there are a lot of bird cherry, mountain ash, barberry, hawthorn, currant, wild rose. Such valuable medicinal plants as juniper, gentian, celandine, sea buckthorn are common. Mongolian Adonis (Altan Khundag) and Rose Radiola (golden ginseng) are especially valued.

In 2009, a record harvest of sea buckthorn was harvested. Today, private companies grow berries in Mongolia on an area of ​​1,500 hectares.

RESERVES (NATIONAL PARKS)

Mongolia is rightfully considered one of the few countries that have preserved the purity and virginity of the environment. Since 1995, after the adoption by the Great Khural of Mongolia of the law on specially protected natural areas, the country introduced a clear distinction between nature reserves, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and natural monuments. New protected areas were created, the area of ​​existing ones was expanded, the boundaries of specially protected areas were approved and their protection was strengthened. Today in Mongolia there are 11 reserves, 7 national parks, 13 reserves. The largest nature reserve in Mongolia - Big Gobi (5300 thousand hectares), is included in the international network biosphere reserves UNESCO, and is the largest in Asia. The oldest - Bogd-Khanul (near Ulaanbaatar), was organized in 1965, but the environmental regime has been observed since 1778, from the time when the Bogd-Uul mountain range was proclaimed sacred.

Today the Ministry of Nature and Environment runs the national park system with a tiny annual budget of around US$100,000 a year. It is clear that such an amount is not enough to protect all protected areas. Unfortunately, in many national parks and specially protected areas, protection regimes are not observed. But if the Mongols turn a blind eye to the violation of the rules by their citizens, then having caught a foreigner in violation of the rules of specially protected areas, do not hesitate to take such a fine from you ...

The Ministry of Nature and Environment classifies all protected areas into four categories which, in order of importance, are:

• Strictly Protected Areas- Very fragile very important areas; hunting, logging and development is strictly prohibited and there is no established human influence.
• National parks historical and educational interest; fishing and grazing by nomadic people is allowed and parts of the park are developed for ecotourism.
• reserves- Less important areas protecting rare species of flora and fauna and archaeological sites; some development is allowed within certain guidelines.
• Natural & Historical Monuments- Important places of historical and cultural interest; development is allowed within the guidelines.

In 2000, the government created five new national parks and one new nature reserve. The 48 protected areas now make up over 13% of Mongolia's territory. The government aims to consolidate the status of natural protected areas up to 30% of the country's territory, which will make Mongolia the largest reserve on the planet.

RESERVES

NATIONAL PARKS

RESERVES

National park fares

To visit national park- as a rule, you need to buy an entrance ticket or obtain (for a fee) permission to be in the national park (or from the park ranger or local office). Income from the entrance fee goes to the development of infrastructure and wages park workers.

National park fees vary. They can take from 1000 to 3000 tugris (per person) for entering the national park. They can take additionally from 300 to 3000 tugris with vehicle. Moreover, the fee if you are a foreign citizen, then the fee is higher than locals. In some parks, the guide and driver do not pay for the entrance to the park (payment is taken ONLY from the tourist)

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• Information about Mongolia 2000. Da. Gandbold. ADMOND Co.Ltd., Mongolia.
• Mongolia guide. Le Petit Fute. Ed. Vanguard. 2005
• Status and prospects of nature conservation in Mongolia. B. Oyuungerel
  Institute of Geography of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar.

Mongolia is located in Central Asia. The country has an area of ​​1,564,116 km2, three times the size of France. Basically it is a plateau, elevated to a height of 900-1500 m above sea level. Above this plateau rises a series of mountain ranges and ranges. 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 is the lower ranges that do not form a single massif, which received the common name Gobi Altai.

Along the border with Siberia in the north-west of Mongolia there are several ridges that do not form a single massif: Khan Khukhei, 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 even in the east, hilly in the south. The south, southwest, and southeast of Mongolia is occupied by the Gobi Desert, which continues into north-central China. According to the landscape features of the Gobi - the desert is by no means homogeneous, it consists of sections of sandy, rocky, covered with small fragments of stones, even for many kilometers and hilly, different in color - the Mongols distinguish especially the Yellow, Red and Black Gobi. Surface water sources are very rare here, but groundwater levels are high.

Mountains of Mongolia

Ridge of the Mongolian Altai. The highest mountain range of Mongolia, located in the North-West of the country. The main part of the ridge is elevated by 3000-4000 meters above sea level and stretches to the southeast of the country from the western border with Russia to the eastern regions of the Gobi. The Altai Range is conditionally divided into the Mongolian and Gobi Altai (Gobi-Altai). The area of ​​the Altai mountainous region is huge - about 248,940 square kilometers.

Tavan-Bogdo-Ula. The highest point of the Mongolian Altai. The height above sea level of the top of Mount Nayramdal is 4374 meters. This mountain range is located at the junction of the borders of Mongolia, Russia and China. The name Tavan-Bogdo-Ula is translated from the Mongolian language as "five sacred peaks". For a long time, the white glacial peaks of the Tavan-Bogdo-Ula mountain range have been revered as sacred by the Mongols, Altaians and Kazakhs. The mountain consists of five snow-capped peaks, with the largest area of ​​glaciation in the Mongolian Altai. Three large glaciers of Potanin, Przhevalsky, Grane and many small glaciers feed the rivers that go to China - the Kanas and Aksu rivers, and the tributary of the Khovd river - Tsagaan-gol that goes to Mongolia.

Khukh-Sereh Ridge is a mountain range on the border of Bayan-Ulgiy and Khovd aimags. The ridge forms a mountain junction that connects the main ridge of the Mongolian Altai with its mountain spurs - the peaks of Tsast (4208 m.) and Tsambagarav (4149 m.). The snow line runs at an altitude of 3700-3800 meters. The ridge is rounded by the Buyant River, which is born from numerous springs at the eastern foot.

The Khan-Khuhiy ridge is the mountains separating the largest lake Uvs in the basin of the Great Lakes from the lakes of the Khyargas system (lakes Khyargas, Khar-Us, Khar, Durgun). The northern slopes of the Khan-Khukhi Range are covered with forest, in contrast to the southern mountain-steppe slopes. The highest peak Duulga-Ul lies at an altitude of 2928 meters above sea level. The mountain range is young and growing rapidly. A huge 120-kilometer seismic crack runs next to it - the result of an 11-point earthquake. Bursts of earth waves one after another rise along the crack to a height of about 3 meters.

Statistical indicators of Mongolia
(as of 2012)

Mount Tsambagarav. A powerful mountain range with the highest height of 4206 meters above sea level (Cast peak). Near the foot of the mountain is the valley of the Khovd River, not far from its confluence with Lake Khar-Us. On the territory of the somon, located at the foot of Mount Tsambagarav, live mainly Olet Mongols, descendants of numerous once Dzhungar tribes. According to the Oletov legend, once a man named Tsamba climbed to the top of the mountain and disappeared. Now they call the mountain Tsambagarav, which is translated into Russian: "Tsamba came out, ascended."

Rivers and lakes of Mongolia

The rivers of Mongolia are born in the mountains. Most of them are the headwaters of the great rivers of Siberia and the Far East, carrying their waters towards the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. Most major rivers countries - Selenga (within the borders of Mongolia - 600 km), Kerulen (1100 km), Tesiin-Gol (568 km), Onon (300 km), Khalkhin-gol, Kobdo-Gol, etc. The most full-flowing is Selenga. It originates from one of the Khangai ranges, receives several large tributaries - Orkhon, Khanuy-gol, Chulutyn-gol, Delger-Muren, etc. Its flow rate is from 1.5 to 3 m per second. In any weather, its fast cold waters, flowing in clay-sandy shores, and therefore always muddy, have a dark gray color. Selenga freezes for half a year, 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. After leaving Mongolia, the Selenga flows through the territory of Buryatia and flows into Baikal.

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

Mongolia has over a thousand permanent lakes and a much larger number of temporary lakes that form during the rainy season and disappear during the drought. In the early Quaternary period, a significant part of the territory of Mongolia was an inland sea, which later divided into several large reservoirs. The current 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 - Ubsu-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 basin in the north of Khangai, there is Lake Khubsugul (depth up to 238 m), similar to Baikal in terms of water composition, relict flora and fauna.

Climate of Mongolia

The high ridges of Central Asia, encircling Mongolia almost from all sides with powerful barriers, isolate it from humid air currents of both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean which creates a sharply continental climate on its territory. It is characterized by the predominance of sunny days, especially in winter, significant dryness of the air, low rainfall, sharp temperature fluctuations, not only annual, but also daily. The temperature during the day can sometimes fluctuate between 20-30 degrees Celsius.

Most cold month year is January. In some regions of the country, the temperature drops to -45 ... 50 ° С.

The hottest month is July. The average air temperature during this period in most of the territory is +20°С, in the south up to +25°С. The maximum temperatures in the Gobi Desert during this period can reach +45…58°C.

The average annual rainfall is 200–250 mm. 80–90% of the total annual precipitation falls within five months, from May to September. The maximum amount of precipitation (up to 600 mm) falls in the Khentii and Altai aimags and near Lake Khuvsgul. The minimum precipitation (about 100 mm per year) falls on the Gobi.

The winds are strongest in spring. In the Gobi regions, winds often lead to the formation of storms and reach enormous destructive force - 15–25 m/s. A wind of such strength can rip off yurts and carry them away for several kilometers, tear tents to shreds.

Mongolia is characterized by a number of exceptional physical and geographical phenomena, within its boundaries are:

• center of world maximum winter atmospheric pressure
• the world's southernmost permafrost distribution belt on a flat terrain (47 ° N).
• in Western Mongolia, in the basin of the Great Lakes, is the northernmost the globe desert distribution zone (50.5 ° N)
• The Gobi desert is the most abruptly continental place on the planet. In summer, the air temperature can rise to +58 °С, in winter it can drop to -45 °С.

Spring in Mongolia comes after a very cold winter. The days were getting longer and the nights were getting shorter. Spring is the time for the snow to melt and the animals to come out of hibernation. Spring begins in mid-March, usually lasting about 60 days, although it can be as long as 70 days or as much as 45 days in some areas of the country. For people and livestock, this is also the season of the driest and windiest days. Spring is not uncommon dust storms, not only in the south, but also in the central regions of the country. Leaving the house of a resident, they try to close the windows, as dust storms come suddenly (and pass just as quickly).

Summer is the warmest season in Mongolia. best season for travel in Mongolia. Precipitation is higher than in spring and autumn. Rivers and lakes are the most full-flowing. However, if the summer is very dry, then closer to autumn the rivers become very shallow. The beginning of summer is the most beautiful time of the year. The steppe is green (the grass has not yet burned out from the sun), livestock is gaining weight and fat. In Mongolia, summer lasts approximately 110 days from late May to September. The hottest month is July. The average air temperature during this period in most of the territory is +20°С, in the south up to +25°С. The maximum temperatures in the Gobi Desert during this period can reach +45…58°C.

Autumn in Mongolia is the season of transition from hot summers to cold and dry winters. There is less rain in autumn. Gradually it becomes cooler and vegetables and grains are harvested at this time. Pastures and forests turn yellow. The flies are dying and the livestock are fat and fuzzy in preparation for the winter. Autumn is an important season in Mongolia to prepare for winter; gathering crops, vegetables and fodder; preparation to the extent of their cattle sheds and sheds; preparing firewood and heating them at home and so on. Autumn lasts approximately 60 days from early September to early November. The end of summer and the beginning of autumn is a very favorable season for travel. However, it must be borne in mind that snow can fall in early September, but within 1-2 it will completely melt.

In Mongolia, winter is the coldest and longest season. In winter, the temperature drops so much that all rivers, lakes, channels and reservoirs freeze. Many rivers freeze almost to the bottom. It is snowing all over the country, but the cover is not very significant. Winter begins in early November and lasts approximately 110 days until March. Sometimes snowing in September and November, but heavy snow usually falls in early November (December). In general, compared to Russia, there is very little snow. Winter in Ulaanbaatar is more dusty than snowy. Although with climate change on the planet it is noted that in winter it began to fall out in Mongolia more snow. And heavy snowfalls are a real natural disaster for pastoralists (dzud).

The coldest month of the year is January. In some regions of the country, the temperature drops to -45 ... 50 (C.). It should be noted that the cold in Mongolia is much easier to bear due to dry air. For example: a temperature of -20°C in Ulaanbaatar is transferred in the same way as -10°C in the central part of Russia.

Flora of Mongolia

The vegetation of Mongolia is very diverse and is a mixture of mountain, steppe and desert with inclusions of the Siberian taiga in the northern regions. Under the influence of the mountainous relief, the latitudinal zonality of the vegetation cover is replaced by a vertical one, so deserts can be found next to forests. Forests along the slopes of the mountains are far to the south, in the vicinity of dry steppes, and deserts and semi-deserts are along plains and hollows far to the north. The natural vegetation of Mongolia corresponds to the local climatic conditions. The mountains in the northwestern part of the country are covered with forests of larch, pine, cedar, and various deciduous tree species. There are magnificent pastures in wide intermountain basins. The river valleys have fertile soil, and the rivers themselves abound in fish.

As you move to the southeast, with a decrease in altitude, the density of vegetation gradually decreases and reaches the level of the Gobi desert region, where only in spring and early summer do some types of grasses and shrubs appear. The vegetation of the north and northeast of Mongolia is incomparably richer, since these areas with more high mountains account for more precipitation. In general, the composition of the flora and fauna of Mongolia is very diverse. The nature of Mongolia is beautiful and diverse. In the direction from north to south, six natural belts and zones. The high-altitude belt is located to the north and west of Lake Khubsugul, on the Khentei and Khangai ridges, in the mountains of the Mongolian Altai. The mountain-taiga belt passes in the same place, below the alpine meadows. The zone of mountain steppes and forests in the Khangai-Khentei mountainous region is the most favorable for human life and is the most developed in terms of the development of agriculture. The largest in size is the steppe zone with its variety of grasses and wild cereals, most suitable for cattle breeding. In the floodplains of the rivers, water meadows are not uncommon.

Currently, 2823 species of vascular plants from 662 genera and 128 families, 445 species of bryophytes, 930 species of lichens (133 genera, 39 families), 900 species of fungi (136 genera, 28 families), 1236 species of algae (221 genera, 60 families). Among them, 845 kinds of medicinal herbs are used in Mongolian medicine, 68 kinds of soil strengthening and 120 kinds of edible plants. There are now 128 species of herbs listed as endangered and endangered and listed in the Red Book of Mongolia.

The Mongolian fora can be conditionally divided into three ecosystems: - grass and shrubs (52% of the earth's surface), forests (15%) and desert vegetation (32%). Cultural crops make up less than 1% of the territory of Mongolia. Flora of Mongolia is very rich in medicinal and fruit plants. In the valleys and in the undergrowth of deciduous forests there are a lot of bird cherry, mountain ash, barberry, hawthorn, currant, wild rose. Such valuable medicinal plants as juniper, gentian, celandine, sea buckthorn are common. Mongolian Adonis (Altan Khundag) and Rose Radiola (golden ginseng) are especially valued. In 2009, a record harvest of sea buckthorn was harvested. Today, private companies grow berries in Mongolia on an area of ​​1,500 hectares.

Animal world of Mongolia

Huge territory, variety of landscape, soils, flora and climatic zones create favorable conditions for the habitat of a variety of animals. Rich and varied animal world Mongolia. Like its vegetation, the fauna of Mongolia is a mixture of species from the northern taiga of Siberia, the steppes and deserts of Central Asia.

The fauna includes 138 species of mammals, 436 birds, 8 amphibians, 22 reptiles, 13,000 species of insects, 75 species of fish and numerous invertebrates. In Mongolia big variety and an abundance of game animals, among which there are many valuable fur and other animals. Sable, lynx, deer, deer, musk deer, elk, roe deer are found in the forests; in the steppes - tarbagan, wolf, fox and dzeren antelope; in the deserts - kulan, wild cat, goitered antelope and saiga, wild camel. In the Gobi mountains, mountain sheep argali, goats and a large predatory leopard are common. Irbis, Snow Leopard in the recent past, it was widely distributed in the mountains of Mongolia, now it mainly lives in the Gobi Altai, and its number has decreased to up to a thousand individuals. Mongolia is the land of birds. Demoiselle crane is a common bird here. big flocks cranes often congregate right on paved roads. Turpans, eagles, and vultures can often be observed close to the road. Geese, ducks, waders, cormorants, various herons and giant colonies different types gulls - silver, black-headed gull (which is listed in the Red Book in Russia), lacustrine, several species of terns - all this biodiversity amazes even experienced ornithologists-researchers.

According to defenders natural resources, endangered 28 species of mammals. The more commonly known species are the wild ass, wild camel, Gobi mountain sheep, Gobi bear (mazalai), ibex and black-tailed gazelle; others include otters, wolves, antelopes, and tarbagans. There are 59 species of endangered birds, including many species of hawk, falcon, buzzard, eagles and owls. Despite the Mongolian belief that it is bad luck to kill an eagle, some species of eagles are endangered. The Mongolian Border Service constantly thwarts attempts to take falcons out of Mongolia to the Persian Gulf countries, where they are used for sports.

But there are also positive aspects. Finally, the number of wild horses has been restored. Takhi - known in Russia as Przewalski's horse - was virtually destroyed in the 1960s. It has been successfully reintroduced into two national parks after an extensive breeding program overseas. AT mountainous areas, about 1000 snow leopards remain. They are hunted for their skin (which is also part of some shamanistic rites).

Every year the government sells licenses to hunt protected animals. Per year, licenses are sold for shooting 300 wild goats, 40 mountain sheep (as a result, receiving up to half a million dollars to the treasury. This money is used to restore wild animal populations in Mongolia).

Population of Mongolia

According to the preliminary results of the population and housing census, held on November 11-17, 2010 nationwide, there are 714,784 families in Mongolia, that is, two million 650 thousand 673 people. This does not include the number of citizens who registered via the Internet and through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia (i.e., those living outside the country), and also does not take into account the number of military personnel, suspects and prisoners under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defense.

Population density - 1.7 people / sq. km. Ethnic composition: 85% of the country are Mongols, 7% are Kazakhs, 4.6% are Durvuds, 3.4% are representatives of other ethnic groups. According to the forecast of the National Statistical Office of Mongolia, the population of the country by 2018 will reach 3 million people.

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/
http://www.legendtour.ru/