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 Mongolia is a huge, landlocked country in-between China and Russia, it covers an entire area of 1.566.500 km. It takes the 15th place with its size in the world. Mongolia stretches 2.400 km from the west to the east and about 1.260 km from the north to the south. The total length of the country's border is 8.156 km.
Apart from the period of Mongol conquest under Chinggis Khaan and Khublai Khaan, Mongolia was until the 20th century about twice its present size. A large lump of Siberia was once part of Mongolia, but it is now the part of the Russia, and Inner Mongolia is now firmly controlled by China.
The southern third of Mongolia is dominated by the Gobi Desert, which stretches into China. Only the southern slice of the Gobi is true desert. The other is desert steppe and has sufficient grass to support herds of sheep, goats and camels. You can see some areas of desert in low lying parts of western Mongolia.
Majority of the territory of Mongolia is covered by grassland. Stretching over about 20% of the country, these steppes are home to vast numbers of gazelles, bird life and livestock. The central, northern and western provinces amounting to about 25% of Mongolia, is classed as mountain forest steppe. It is home to gazelles and antelopes, and has a relatively high number of people and livestock.
The southern third of Mongolia is dominated by the Gobi Desert, which stretches into China. Only the southern slice of the Gobi is true desert. The other is desert steppe and has sufficient grass to support herds of sheep, goats and camels. You can see some areas of desert in low lying parts of western Mongolia.
Majority of the territory of Mongolia is covered by grassland. Stretching over about 20% of the country, these steppes are home to vast numbers of gazelles, bird life and livestock. The central, northern and western provinces amounting to about 25% of Mongolia, is classed as mountain forest steppe. It is home to gazelles and antelopes, and has a relatively high number of people and livestock.
The southern third of Mongolia is dominated by the Gobi Desert, which stretches into China. Only the southern slice of the Gobi is true desert. The other is desert steppe and has sufficient grass to support herds of sheep, goats and camels. You can see some areas of desert in low lying parts of western Mongolia.
Majority of the territory of Mongolia is covered by grassland. Stretching over about 20% of the country, these steppes are home to vast numbers of gazelles, bird life and livestock. The central, northern and western provinces amounting to about 25% of Mongolia, is classed as mountain forest steppe. It is home to gazelles and antelopes, and has a relatively high number of people and livestock.
Mongolia is also one of the highest countries in the world. In the far west are Mongolia's highest mountains, Mongol Altai Nuruu, which are permanently snowcapped. The highest peak is Tavanbogd Uul (4374m). It has a magnificent glacier towering over Mongolia, Russia and China. Between the peaks are stark but beautiful deserts where rain almost never falls.
The far northern areas of Khovsgol and Khentii provinces are essentially the southern reaches of Siberia. They are covered by larch and pine forests.
Near the center of Mongolia is the Khangai Nuruu range, with its highest peak, Otgon Tenger Uul, that reaches 3905m. On the north slope of these mountains is the source of source of Selenge Murun, Mongolia's largest river, which flows northward into Lake Baikal in Siberia. While the river Selenge Murun is the largest in terms of water volume, the longest river is the Kherlen Gol in eastern Mongolia.
Just to the north-east of Ulaanbaatar is Khentii Nuruu, the highest mountain range in eastern Mongolia and by far the most accessible to hikers. It is a massively forested region with furious rivers and impressive peaks, the highest being Asralt Khairkhan Uul (2800m). The range provides a major watershed between the Arctic and Pacific oceans.
Mongolia has numerous saltwater and freshwater lakes which are great for camping, watching bird life, hiking, swimming and fishing. The most popular is the magnificent Khovsgol Nuur, the second-oldest lake in the world, which contains 65% of Mongolia's (and 2% of the world's) fresh water. The largest is the low-lying, saltwater lake Uvs Nuur.
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Mongolia 
