Geography
Introduction
First thing one notices, when talking about Mongolia, is
the severe continental climate. This climate is caused by
a couple of factors. Mongolia is landlocked between the super
states China and Russia. Most of the country is lying on high
altitude and the division of air pressure systems also plays
a role. It is reported that less than one percent of the country's
surface is arable, 8-10 percent forested and the rest being
pasture, including semi-desert in the Gobi region.
Borders
The borders of present day Mongolia are mostly formed by
natural boundaries of mountain ranges. In the north sediments
of the Angara shield form old remains of relief from the Caledonian
folding 400 million years ago. To the west and the east borders
the structures are formed by the Hercynical folding of 300
million years ago. In the south old parts of the Chinese shield
are covered by sediments from later times.
There is a hunch that there might be a breaking line on the
Eurasian Plate, through the center of Mongolia, on the line
Lake Baikal to the border of Pakistan and India. Earthquakes
may occur in Mongolia.
Altitude
The highest point lies in the utter west, with an altitude
of 4734 metres, the lowest is not yet determined, but lies
around the 560 metres. The average altitude of Mongolia is
1580 metres, which makes it one of the highest countries in
the world. The Changajn Nuruu (mountain range) in the west
center of Mongolia is the water division. The main rivers
in the north flow into the Russian great rivers, which take
the water to the Arctic Ocean. The southern rivers mostly
run up dry.
Climate
Mongolia has distinctive climate regions from north
to south: taiga, steppe and desert. In general the extreme
continental climate causes long, cold winters lasting for
around eight months and short, relatively hot summers. There
is an average of 257 cloudless days a year (70%)
Original Text: Barry Wijnandts
Edited by Guido Verboom, January 8, 2005
Additional sources:
Modern
Mongolia: A Concise History by Tsedendambyn Batbayar
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