Mongolia:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Mongolia:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A Communist regime was installed in 1924. Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. Since then, parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000, but 2004 elections reduced MPRP representation and, therefore, its authority.

Location	Definition Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates	Definition 46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references	Definition Asia
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 1,564,116 sq km land: 1,554,731 sq km water: 9,385 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries	Definition total: 8,220 km border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km
Coastline	Definition 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims	Definition none (landlocked)
Climate	Definition desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain	Definition vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Natural resources	Definition oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 0.76% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.24% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 840 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 34.8 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%) per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	Definition dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which is harsh winter conditions
Environment - current issues	Definition limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note	Definition landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

Mongolia: Geography

Mongolia:
Geography