MONGOLIA

Population:  3 million people       US$1  =  1,200 tugrik

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Mongolia

Mongolia lies in central Asia between Siberia on the north and China on the south. Since the 1991 break up of the Soviet Union, Mongolia has become readily accessible to foreign travellers. It is slightly larger than Alaska. The name 'Mongolia' has always stirred up visions of the untamed -- of Genghis Khan with wild horses and camels galloping across the Gobi Desert.  Even today, outside of Ulaan Baatar you get the feeling you've stepped into another century.   Mongolia's climate is extreme. Long sub-arctic winters are the norm and you can see snow in the Gobi Desert as late as April. There's a short rainy season from mid-July to September, but showers tend to be brief and gentle. Because of the high altitude, evenings are cool even in summer. In Ulaan Baatar, the winter -- October to April -- is long and cold, with temperatures dropping to -22°F (-30°C) in January and February. Horrific dust storms kick up during the short spring -- May to June.   Much of the Mongolia’s steppe is rich grassland supporting wild antelope and gazelle.  It is also home to the nomadic Mongolians who tend often large numbers of sheep, goats, cattle, horses, yaks and camels, travelling widely across the plains and living in very portable homes known as gers. Remarkably, out of a population of nearly 3 million people, more than one-half live in this traditional type of dwelling, which incorporates a framework of slender poles and a covering of tough felt.   Mongolian gers  

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The first gas station out of Ulaan Baatar.

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The Erdene Zuu Khiid, the oldest monastery in Mongolia.

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Website by David Shore -- Copyright © 2006 -- San Francisco, USA - phone: 650-255-3515

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