Territory of Mongolia. What do the names of places in Mongolia say?

Story

Distribution of nomadic tribes in Mongolia

In their history, Mongolian ethnic groups went through such periods as a unified Mongolian state, with the formation of a single Mongolian people; a world empire that still has no equal; the collapse of the empire (which began with the fall of the western territories); feudal fragmentation, with attempts to unify and restore the empire, division of the nation; complete loss of state independence and transformation of neighboring states into colonies; restoration of statehood in the territories of indigenous uluses; and the sovereign state of modern times.

Nowadays, in addition to the modern independent Republic of Mongolia, quite large ethnic groups of Mongolian origin, conscious of their belonging to the Mongolian world and currently not assimilated by those around them, exist in state entities Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. Not having state entities, relatively large Mongolian groups exist in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and former Republic Afghanistan. To this we can add the presence of relatively small diasporas of Mongolian origin in American (USA, Canada (Quebec)), European (France, Germany, Bulgaria, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic) and even African countries, possibly on the Australian continent.

In ancient times, the territory of Mongolia was little similar to what it is today. It was covered with virgin forests and swamps, and meadows and steppes lay on the plateaus. In the 3rd century. BC e. in the steppe adjacent to the outskirts of the Gobi takes shape new people- Huns. The Huns were the first people to conquer the deserts. And for this it was not enough to have courage and perseverance; intelligence was also required. In the 3rd century. BC e. The Huns, who inhabited the territory of Mongolia, began to fight China. And in the 3rd century. BC e. The first state of steppe nomads was created. The existence of the Xiongnu people became known from Chinese sources.

Formation of the Mongolian state

Temujin spent his childhood and early years with his brothers and mother in the Delun Mountains of Baldock. He rose to power gradually; at first he received the patronage of Van Khan, the ruler of the Kereits in Central Mongolia. As soon as Temujin gained a sufficient number of supporters, he conquered the three most powerful states in Mongolia: the Tatar in the east (), his former patrons the Kereits in Central Mongolia () and the Naiman in the west (). At the Kurultai - a congress of the Mongolian nobility in 1206 - he was proclaimed the Supreme Khan of all the Mongols and received the title of Genghis Khan.

Creation of the Empire of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire emerged as a result of the unification of the Mongol tribes by Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan ruled Mongolia from to. The Mongol state expanded significantly, incorporating the territories of China (Ulus of the Great Khan), Central Asia (Chagatai Ulus), Iran (Ilkhan State) and Kievan Rus (Ulus of Jochi or Golden Horde). However, due to significant differences in the cultures of the occupied lands, the state turned out to be heterogeneous, and the process of disintegration began.

Mongol Yuan Dynasty in China (-)

Legislative power is exercised by the parliament - the State Great Khural (SGH) consisting of 76 members, popularly elected by secret ballot for a period of 4 years. The VGH is headed by the chairman, deputy chairman and general secretary, elected by secret ballot from among its members.

Executive power is exercised by the government, formed by the Supreme State Council at the proposal of the prime minister and in agreement with the president. The candidacy of the head of the Cabinet of Ministers is submitted to the Supreme State Council for consideration by the President. The government is accountable to the VGH.

At the local level, power is exercised by local self-government bodies: aimak, city, district and somonial khurals, whose deputies are elected by the population for a period of 4 years.

Political structure

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

In Mongolia, there are over a thousand permanent lakes and a much larger number of temporary lakes that form during the rainy season and disappear during the dry season. In the early Quaternary period, a significant part of the territory of Mongolia was an inland sea, which was later divided into several large bodies of water. The current lakes are what remains of them. The largest of them are located in the basin Big lakes in the north-west of the country - Uvsu-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 depression in the north of Khangai there is Lake Khubsugul (depth up to 238 m), similar to Baikal in water composition, relict flora and fauna.

Climate

Mongolia has a sharply continental climate with harsh winters and dry, hot summers. In the capital, the city of Ulaanbaatar, located approximately midway between the mountain ranges of the north-west and the desert arid zone of the south-east of the country, temperatures range from minus 25° C ÷ 35° C in winter to plus 25° C ÷ 35° C in summer. Ulaanbaatar is one of the coldest winter capitals in the world: the coldest month is January. The warmest month is July.

If in the north-west 250-510 mm of precipitation falls annually, then in Ulaanbaatar it is only 230-250 mm, and even less precipitation falls in the Gobi desert region.

Administrative division

Aimaks of Mongolia

Mongolia is divided into the capital Ulaanbaatar and 21 aimaks: Ara-Khangai, Bayan-Ulegei, Bayan-Khongor, Bulgan, East Gobi, Eastern, Gobi-Altai, Gobi-Sumber, Darkhan, Dzabkhan, Kobdo, Orkhon, Selenga, Middle Gobi , Sukhbaatar, Ubsunur, Uver-Khangai, Khubsugul, Khentei, Central, South Gobi.

Mongolia address system

Due to the significant number of temporary settlements (yurts) in the country, which change their spatial location over time, traditional address systems (city, street, house...) are not very suitable for Mongolia.

On February 2, 2008, the Government of Mongolia decided to adapt the Universal Address System technology to the needs of the country, i.e., use the Natural Area Code (NAC) to address objects on the ground.

This system allows you to address on the ground within the Earth both entire regions and cities, individual houses and even small objects with an accuracy of up to a meter. The more accurately the address is specified, the longer its code. For example, the address of the entire city of Ulaanbaatar is RV-W QZ, and the monument in the center of Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar - RW8SK QZKSL.

The essence of the NAC address code is very simple and is similar to the nomenclature system for naming individual sheets of scale maps or the Oracle Spatial spatial indexing system.

Due to the fact that the universal address system is global in nature and is well suited for use in digital cartography, geographic information and navigation systems, its use puts Mongolia on a par with the leaders of the coming digital era.

Economy

Advantages: copper and cashmere. Large untapped reserves of coal and oil. Traditional and effective Agriculture.

Weak sides: Harsh winters since 1999 have decimated the livestock population. Collapse of infrastructure. Growing poverty.

GDP (2006):$5.781 billion

Export: copper, animal products, goat down, wool

Import: fuel, machinery, cars

Main trading partners: China, Russia, USA, Japan

Religion

Gandantegchinlen Monastery in Ulaanbaatar

Short story

The most ancient religion of the Mongols is shamanism. Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism) was officially adopted in the country in 1578, but shamanism continues to be practiced by a small part of the population (primarily in the north of the country). By the time of the People's Revolution of 1921, there were 747 Buddhist monasteries and 120 thousand monks and priests in the country (with general population countries of 650 thousand people)

Panorama of the ruins of the Ongiin Khiid monastery

At the end of 1934, there were 843 major Buddhist monasteries, about 3,000 temples and chapels, and 6,000 other buildings belonging to monasteries in Mongolia. Monks made up 48% of the adult male population. As a result of repressions at the end of the 1930s, all monasteries were closed, their property was nationalized, but only some of the buildings were used, the vast majority of the monasteries were destroyed (only 6 were relatively preserved). According to a minimum estimate, 18 thousand monks were executed. In only one of the mass graves discovered near the city of Muren, the remains of 5 thousand executed monks were found (that is, over 1% of the total adult population of the country at that time). In 1949, a single monastery was reopened in Ulaanbaatar, but the freedom of religion declared by the 1960 constitution was ensured only in the late 1980s and the revival of traditional Buddhism, Islam, and shamanism began. Since the early 1990s, foreign Christian missions and Baha'is and Moonies began their activities.

Modern statistics of religions

Central registration of religious communities is not provided for by the legislation of Mongolia, therefore, the information provided in the Statistical Yearbook of Mongolia for 2007 on the number of monasteries and temples (only those in which religious services were held during the year) is not complete: 138 Buddhist (including in Bayan-Ulegey, Gobi-Altai, Gobi-Sumber and South Gobi aimaks only 1), 89 Christian (out of 64 in Ulaanbaatar, 12 in Darkhan, 6 in Erdenet), 20 Islamic (17 in Bayan-Ulegey and 3 in Kobdos aimaks) and 2 others (it is clarified that by others we mean Bahaism, Munism and Bon).

Information published by the US State Department in the annual Reports on religious freedom in Mongolia (prepared by the US Embassy in this country) is given in the table:

Number of officially registered places of worship

Religion	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Buddhism	151	172	191	206	217	217
Christianity	76	95	127	127	143	161
Islam	4	4	5	5	24	44
Baha'ism	5	5	5	5	5	5
Shamanism	…	…	0	…	2	5
Other	3	3	0	14	0	0
Total	239	279	328	357	391	432

A question about religious affiliation was asked during a Swiss aid project in 2007, when 661 heads of household in the cities of Barun-Urt, Arvaikher, Ulangom and Kobdo gave the following answers: 75.8% Buddhists, 21.6% non-religious, 1. 4% Christians, 0.9% Muslims and 0.3% other religions.

A Gallup global opinion poll conducted in 2007-2008 ranked Mongolia as the tenth least religious country in the world (between France and Belarus): only 27% of respondents said that “religion is an important part of everyday life.”

Buddhism in Mongolia

Buddhist monastery Amarbayasgalant in northern Mongolia

Tibetan Buddhism is the traditional religion of all Mongol-speaking peoples and nationalities of Mongolia, as well as the Turkic-speaking Tuvans. Buddhists make up 94% of the population, the absolute majority in all regions of Mongolia with the exception of Bayan-Ulegei aimag). Among them there are also a number of shamanists, most often combining the confession of Buddhism, so an accurate determination of the proportion of shamanists is not possible.

Islam in Mongolia

Main mosque in Ulegei, western Mongolia

Kazakhs, who make up 88.7% of the population of the Bayan-Ulegey aimag and 11.5% of the population of the Kobdos aimag (several thousand Kazakhs migrated to Ulaanbaatar and other largest cities in the north of the country) traditionally profess Sunni Islam. Their number in 1956 was 37 thousand (4.3% of the population), by 1989 it increased to 121 thousand (6.1% of the population). The mass repatriation of Kazakh oralmans to Kazakhstan led to a reduction in their number to 103 thousand (4.3%) in 2000. However, by 2007, the number of Kazakhs increased again to 140 thousand (5.4% of the population).

Christianity in Mongolia

Mormon Church meetinghouse in Sukhbaatar, northern Mongolia

In 2007, the total number of Christians was (according to their own estimates) Christian churches) St. 4% of the total population, including Protestants (mostly evangelical Christians-Baptists) made up 90% of Christians, another 9% were Mormons, while Catholics and Orthodox Christians combined made up only 1% of all Christians in Mongolia. It should be borne in mind that there were at least 250 more unregistered evangelical churches operating in the country (according to church sources).

Holy Trinity Church in Ulaanbaatar

A significant proportion of the parishioners of the Holy Trinity Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ulaanbaatar are immigrants from the former USSR who settled in the city, as well as citizens of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries who come to Mongolia for work, study or leisure. The consecration of the new temple under construction is planned for the summer of 2009. There are plans to build a temple-chapel in Erdenet

Army

Conscription system. Conscription age 18-25 years. Service life 12 months.

There were 570,435 fit for combat service in 2005. Every year, 34,674 people reach military age.

Transport in Mongolia

Mongolia has road, rail, water (river) and air transport. The Selenga, Orkhon and Lake Khubsugol rivers are accessible for navigation.

Mongolia has two main railway lines: the Choibalsan-Borzya railway connects Mongolia with Russia, and the Trans-Mongolian railway passing through Ulaanbaatar connects China and Russia.

Navy

Main article: Mongolian Navy

Mongolia is the second largest landlocked country in the world (after Kazakhstan). However, this did not stop her from registering her ship registry (The Mongolia Ship Registry Pte Ltd) in February 2003. Since registration, Mongolia has been systematically increasing the number of ships flying its flag. And in 2003, revenues to the treasury amounted to about $20,000,000.

Sources

1. http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/EthnicGroups/136937.htm
2. http:// www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus_nation.php
3. http://www.cultinfo.ru/fulltext/1/001/008/118/106html
4. After the victory of the Chinese revolution, Outer Mongolia will become part of the Chinese Federation. We once raised the question of whether it was possible to return Outer Mongolia to China. They (USSR) said no. Mao Zedong
5. Decision of the Government of Mongolia on adaptation of NAC, February 2, 2008 (Mongolian)
6. S. I. Brook World population. Ethnodemographic reference book. M., Science. 1986. P. 400
7. US State Department. Religious Freedom Report 2003
8. US State Department. Religious Freedom Report 2004
9. US State Department. Religious Freedom Report 2005

Mongolia is known to most as a sparsely populated country with centuries-old traditions of nomadism. But few people know that the increase in population and industrial development in the post-war period led to accelerated urbanization. Today, 3/5 of the country's population lives in the cities of Mongolia. The rest prefer a nomadic lifestyle.

Mongolia is a large state in Central Asia. This country has only two “neighbors”: in the north - Russia, in the south, west and east - China.

Lives in Mongolia a large number of nationalities belonging mainly to the Mongolian and Turkic language groups. There are also Russians and Chinese in this country. The official language is Mongolian, and the Cyrillic script is used.

The state religion is Tibetan Buddhism, although there are also many adherents of Christianity in this country. You can also meet Muslims and Catholics.

Mongolia today is of particular interest to tourists, even despite the relatively small number of historically significant buildings. The main wealth of Mongolia is its unique nature, untouched by people, which attracts a large number of ecotourism enthusiasts. The endless expanses of steppes, lifeless deserts and salt marshes, majestic mountainous areas, blue lakes and, of course, the original local population - this is what people from all over the world come to see.

Capital	Ulaanbaatar
Population	2,754,685 people (as of 2010)
	1,564,116 km2
Population density	1.8 people/km²
	Mongolian
Religion	Tibetan Buddhism
Form of government	parliamentary republic
	Mongolian tugrik
Timezone
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity	220V/50Hz, socket types: C and E

Climate and weather

Climate in Mongolia sharply continental, which causes harsh winters and hot, dry summers here. The country is characterized by large daily air temperature amplitudes. Winter period Mongolia is characterized by frosty and harsh weather.

In the coldest month, January, average temperature During the day it reaches -15 °C, and at night it drops to -30 °C. In summer, Mongolia is quite hot and very stuffy. In July, during the day the thermometer rises to +25 °C, and at night the air cools down to +11 °C.

The harshest weather occurs in the famous Gobi Desert. Here in winter the temperature rarely rises above -50 °C, and in summer the air warms up to more than +40 °C.

In Mongolia there are about 250 sunny days a year. There are so many of them because high mountains, which do not allow moist air masses from the ocean to pass into the interior of the country. In desert areas, dust storms may occur from May to June. Precipitation in Mongolia is very rare and mainly in summer period. Winters here are practically snowless.

The best time to visit Mongolia from early May to early October. At the same time, you should not be afraid of summer rains; although they are powerful here, they are very short-lived. If you want to come to Mongolia in winter, then you should take into account that almost all tourist centers are closed for this period.

Nature

The nature here is amazingly beautiful. Mongolia is considered one of the few countries where it has been possible to preserve a truly pristine environment. Here you can see taiga forests, beautiful blue lakes, endless steppes, sultry deserts with small oases, and snow-capped mountains.

Most of Mongolia is occupied by endless steppes and deserts. Once upon a time, the birth of nomadic peoples took place here.

Numerous lakes are the pride of this country. The largest of them is Khubsugul. This lake is considered the deepest in all of Central Asia. Locals call it “Mother Lake”. Fish are abundant here and the surrounding forests are home to numerous wildlife.

One more business card Mongolia is famous Gobi Desert. Its territory occupies more than a third of the country. The uniqueness of this area lies in the fact that it includes many areas with different climates, fauna and flora. Here you can find both huge grassy steppes and typical deserts with sandy and rocky soils, as well as basins with oases and saxaul groves. It is worth noting that it is in the Gobi that the only small population of wild camels in the world remains, and if you are lucky, here you can meet the unique desert mazalai bear.

Attractions

The main attraction of Mongolia is its pristine, untouched nature.

National Khustai Park attracts a large number of ecotourists. This park is located 80 km from Ulaanbaatar. The reserve was created to preserve the population of wild Przewalski's horses. A Gobi National Park famous for its constant discoveries of dinosaur fossils. Among the natural features, it is worth noting a huge waterfall located in the upper reaches of the local Orkhon River.

The main attractions of the capital of Mongolia Ulaanbaatar called the Bell of Peace, located in the central square of the city, the Khan's headquarters with famous sculptures of the incarnations of the goddess Tara, and many other museums and galleries. Large temples and monasteries are very popular among Buddhist pilgrims. It is worth paying attention to the Opera and Ballet Theater, as well as the Dance and Folk Song Theater, whose productions reflect the centuries-old musical traditions of Mongolia.

Not far from the capital of Mongolia there is a small village Dulun-Boldog, which gained fame thanks to its native Genghis Khan. A monument to the great founder of the Mongol Empire was erected in this place. It is believed that every Mongolian should visit this holy place.

350 km from Ulaanbaatar there are the ruins of an ancient Karakoram. This city was the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th-16th centuries. Karakorum was founded by the legendary Genghis Khan in 1220, after which the city was completed by his son. Only the palace of Khan Ogedei, as well as several craft quarters and numerous religious buildings, have been well preserved to this day. Near the Karakorum is the very first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, Erdene-Zu, built in 1586.

Very popular with foreign tourists enjoys the famous " dinosaur graveyard", located in the mountains Nemagetu. This famous place is visited by up to several thousand foreign tourists a year.

Nutrition

Restaurants in Mongolia offer their visitors food for every taste. In the capital of the state you can find many restaurants and small cafes serving European cuisine. You rarely see such diversity in rural areas.

Basically, local residents eat few vegetables and fruits, but a lot of meat, cheese and bread. Fish is also served mainly in large cities.

The basis of the diet of the Mongolian population is mainly meat- lamb, horse meat, goat meat. Some residents prefer to eat camel meat. Popular side dishes for meat dishes are potatoes, rice and pasta. Fresh vegetables can only be found on tables in the capital's homes.

Traditional Mongolian dishes consist of boiled meat with a huge amount fat and flour. The most popular is " boodog", a whole carcass of a kid or marmot without bones, which is filled with hot stones and the neck is tied tightly. Another famous dish of Mongolia is “ gorgod" This is finely chopped meat with vegetables that are steamed in a metal container. "Widespread" tsusan khiam"or blood sausage - the small intestines of an animal, usually a sheep, are filled with blood, onions, salt and flour. This dish should be cooked in meat broth for no more than 15 minutes.

Various types of food are very popular among Mongols. dairy. Local residents consume all types of milk - cow's, sheep's, mare's, goat's and even camel's. Various dairy products are also widespread, such as cheese " byaslag"or milk foam - " orom».

In Mongolia they are especially revered tea. It is interesting that the Mongols drink tea in complete silence, unlike other peoples who love to talk over a cup of good tea. Many tourists praise Mongolian alcoholic drinks, but, as a rule, they are very expensive.

The cost of dinner for two in a good restaurant is 30,000 tugriks, which is just over $20. And in a small cafe it’s a little less - $14.

Accommodation

The bulk of hotels in Mongolia are located in the capital of the state - Ulaanbaatar. There are several hotels in Darkhan, Sukhbaatar And Erdenete. As a rule, few hotels in Mongolia can boast of rooms that meet international requirements. Usually these are inexpensive, but quite cozy hotels.

Outside large populated areas, the only accommodation option for tourists is to stay at campsites. Usually they are a large area with yurts, which are equipped with electricity and a set of necessary furniture.

Room prices in local hotels are quite reasonable. The average cost of one double room in a middle-class hotel in Ulaanbaatar will be no more than $50 per day. During the traditional annual Naadam festival, housing prices increase sharply, by about 20%.

Entertainment and relaxation

The main entertainments of the country are fishing and hunting. The most experienced fishermen know that there is no better fishing than in Mongolia in the whole world. Here you can catch (if your fishing rod doesn’t break) such giant fish as grayling or osman.

Hunting with golden eagles is very popular in Mongolia. A special hunting festival was even dedicated to this species, which recently received international status. Traditional competitions for hunting bird equipment are held here. A special feature of this festival is the colorful hunt for live hares or foxes.

For lovers of active recreation travel companies offer numerous hiking through the Gobi Desert or the beautiful Mongolian Altai. Here, together with a guide, you can climb the highest point of Mongolia - Mt. Kiytyn-Uul.

You can also get indescribable sensations by visiting amazing National parks countries. Here you can find unique natural conditions habitats of various rare animals, for example, Przewalski's horses. And also see the most interesting finds of dinosaur fossils.

All tourists coming to Mongolia can take part in competitions in the most favorite sport of this country - archery.

Purchases

Most tourists prefer to purchase in Mongolia High Quality cashmere, which is considered the best in the world. Also popular are camel wool blankets, paintings, carpets, national costumes, and jewelry.

Local store opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Day off is Sunday.

It is worth noting that some stores, when setting the price tag, take into account government tax, which is 10% of the amount of the product.

Transport

There are many modes of transport in Mongolia: road, air, river and rail.

The country has several airports operating flights within the country. The only international airport that was named after the great Genghis Khan is located near Ulaanbaatar. It connects Mongolia with other countries of the world.

Most of the roads in this country are dirt and gravel. There are only a few routes with improved surfaces - from Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan to the state borders.

Public transport in Mongolia is represented by urban buses and trolleybuses. Moreover, this transport is available only in a few large cities. The cost of travel on public transport is less than $0.5. In large cities, such as Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan, you can use minibuses. The cost of a trip on such transport is approximately $1. You can also travel around the cities on private taxis. For one kilometer the fee is $0.5.

In Mongolia, there is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of a unique type of transport - air taxi. This is a small twin-engine aircraft with a capacity of up to 15 people. Typically, tourists resort to the services of this transport when they want to take a short trip to the beautiful places of the country. One hour of renting such an aircraft will cost $2,000.

There are two main branches in Mongolia railway. One of them, Choibalsan-Borzya, connects this country with Russia. The Trans-Mongolian road starts in the Russian Ulan-Ude, passes through the entire territory of Mongolia and goes to China. Local residents practically do not use this type of transport, only when traveling to Russia or China.

River transport not very common in Mongolia. Only a few rivers are suitable for its work: Orkhon and Selenga, as well as Lake Khubsugul.

Connection

The communications system in the country is very poorly developed. Even in the capital, you rarely see a pay phone on the street. You can mainly use such devices in post offices or hotels, from where you can make international calls. True, the tariffs for this type of communication are quite high - about $2 per minute of conversation with Russia or China, and $4 with other countries. International calls outside the capital can only be made from several call centers throughout the country.

Internet connection is only available in internet cafes and some hotels. Providers provide stable connections, but with low data transfer speeds. The cost of one hour of Internet use ranges from $0.3 to $0.5.

IN Lately Mobile communications in Mongolia have begun to develop very rapidly. The first and only mobile operator Mobicom provides communications within Ulaanbaatar, Erdenet and Darkhan, as well as other ten cities. Prices for cellular communication services reach $0.85 per minute of conversation.

Safety

From a security point of view, Mongolia is a relatively calm country. Many Mongolians are friendly towards foreigners. There is currently no terrorist threat in this country.

Foreign citizens should be wary of large crowds of people, where there may be a risk of pickpocketing and robbery.

Driving in Mongolia is also not safe, as traffic rules are hardly enforced. Large traffic jams and frequent accidents are a very common occurrence on Mongolian roads.

The quality of tap water here leaves much to be desired; it should be boiled before drinking. The use of bottled water is available only in Ulaanbaatar; in other cities it is simply not available.

When in Mongolia, you should be wary of serious infectious diseases, such as dysentery, salmonellosis and viral hepatitis. Therefore, before arriving in the country you need to get the necessary vaccinations.

Business climate

Since the end of the twentieth century, industry and agriculture began to actively develop in Mongolia. Today there are excellent opportunities for doing business in Ulaanbaatar. Foreign businessmen place the main emphasis on the mining industry and cashmere production. The main investors are representatives from Russia, China, Canada and the USA.

Much attention has been paid to the tourism sector, which last years received a huge boost in development. The unique nature of Mongolia makes it attractive to ecotourists, the number of which is increasing every year.

Real estate

Recently, there has been an increase in interest from foreign investors in Mongolian real estate. Observing this trend, government authorities have created special conditions to facilitate the smooth acquisition of real estate by foreigners.

Today, the cost of one square meter of housing in Mongolia is on average $700, and luxury real estate can be purchased at a price of $1,650 per square meter. For rent in Mongolia you will have to pay up to $300 per month.

• As in other countries of the East, in this country there is a great danger of contracting unpleasant infectious diseases, such as cholera, plague, rabies and viral hepatitis of all types. Therefore, a mandatory condition for entering Mongolia is vaccination against these diseases.
• When visiting the famous sights of this country, it is worth remembering that video and photography in local churches and monasteries is strictly prohibited. You cannot photograph government and military institutions, as well as border crossings.
• It is worth noting that the Mongols have a “right-hand custom”: here it is customary to give and take everything only with the right hand. Therefore, to show local residents your respect for the owners’ home, use this rule.
• When visiting local markets, you should be especially careful in crowded places. There is a high probability of encountering pickpockets and robbers here. Local tour operators strongly recommend leaving large sums, passports and other valuables in hotel safes.

Visa information

Mongolia is a country that has declared a visa regime for most countries in the world. You can apply for a visa at the consular section of the Mongolian Embassy in Moscow. To do this, you must provide the following types of documents: a foreign passport valid for at least six months; one color photograph 3x4 cm; a copy of the passport pages with the applicant’s data; filled out in Mongolian, Russian or English languages visa application form; a certificate from your place of work indicating your income. To obtain a visa for children, a mandatory document is a certified copy of the birth certificate.

The consular fee for a tourist visa to Mongolia is $50, for urgent processing of documents - $100.

For detailed advice on obtaining a visa to Mongolia, you can contact the embassy of this country at: 121069, Moscow, per. Borisoglebsky, 11.

The country is located in the heart of Asia. These are areas of vast steppes, sand dunes, vast mountains, endless blue skies and hot sun. Magnificent Mongolia has fabulous natural resources.

Answers to many questions regarding this beautiful country can be found in this article. In it we will talk about the government structure (Mongolia - a republic or a monarchy); about geographical location, population and much more.

The centuries-old history of Mongolia can tell a lot of interesting things. Peculiarities ancient traditions and customs are quite curious and varied.

general information

Mongolia has a total of 250 sunny days a year.

This mysterious country, often called the "Land of Blue Sky", is home to the great Rocky Mountains, blue lakes, endless steppes and golden sands of the Gobi Desert - all of Mongolian beauty. natural landscapes. There are many Buddhist temples here, and the locals are amazingly hospitable and have their own unique and distinctive culture.

State structure

The highest legislative body of Mongolia is the Great Khural (parliament). There are 76 members (according to the Constitution) with powers for a four-year term. a parliament is elected, the main form of activity of which is sessions, which meet only when 2/3 or more of all its members are present.

The powers of parliament include the formation of the highest executive power in Mongolia (government headed by a prime minister). The head of state is the president, who can be elected from among Mongolian citizens who have reached the age of 45 for a term of 4 years (condition - permanent place residence in home country for the last 5 years).

According to the Constitution, in force since 1992, Mongolia is a parliamentary republic. The main political parties are: the People's Revolutionary Party, the Democratic Party, the Democratic Religious Party and the Green Party.

Until 1992, the country was called a republic.

In 1991, the Democratic Party came to power through a peaceful revolution. Since 2009, many reforms have been carried out in the country.

Geographical position

This country occupies part of Central Asia.

Mongolia is a landlocked republic. It has borders with Russia in the north, and with China in the south, west and east. The entire length of Mongolia's borders is 8,162 kilometers (including 3,485 kilometers with Russia).

The area of ​​the state is 1,566 thousand square kilometers.

Geographically, the Republic of Mongolia is divided into 21 regions (aimag), consisting of smaller administrative units - soums. In turn, each somon (342 in total) is divided into bugs (teams). There are 1539 of them in total.

3 Mongolian cities Erdenet, Darkhan and Choir are autonomous units by status.

Gandan Monastery.

Culture

Mongolia is a republic whose traditions and culture are rich and diverse. For many centuries, nomads roamed the deserts and steppes of Central Asia and kept certain customs unchanged. Every July, Mongolia celebrates the Naddam festival with traditional Mongolian competitions in horse racing, archery and wrestling; The end of winter time and the arrival of the New Year are celebrated - also with competitions.

Various festivals are held in Mongolia: Hunting Eagles; Yak and camel.

In conclusion about the economy

Mongolia is developing dynamically economically and is one of the most promising markets in Northeast Asia, and practically in the entire Asia-Pacific region.

It so happened that the ancient Mongolian civilization cannot “boast” of a large number of ancient cities. The reason is that since ancient times the Mongols were nomads, and a sedentary lifestyle was unacceptable for them, so they did not create “stationary” settlements.

At first, after its formation, even the capital of Mongolia, called Urga, was nomadic. According to historians, during the first 17 years of its existence, it moved more than 60 times. From this article we will try to find out what the capital of Mongolia is today, how it lives and how it is developing.

Capital city

Modern Ulaanbaatar (in Russian Ulaanbaatar) is rightfully considered the most amazing and paradoxical Asian capital. In this million-plus city, traditional yurts coexist with modern skyscrapers, and no one will be surprised by the fact that its residents sometimes get to work the old fashioned way - on horseback. Despite the centuries-old history for which Mongolia is famous, the capital Ulaanbaatar is a fairly young city, dating back to 1639.

It is worth noting that at the moment more than 1,200,000 people live in the Mongolian capital, and the city's population is constantly increasing.

Geographical location

Today, the capital of Mongolia is officially recognized as the coldest on the planet, since its average annual temperature does not exceed -0.4 o C. This is due to the fact that the city is located between the desert and arid southeastern part of the country and the northwestern mountain ranges, on bank of the Tola (Tuul) river. The Mongolian capital is surrounded on four sides by mountains: Songinokhairkhan, Chingeltei, Bayandzurkh and Bogd-Khan-Uul. The latter is considered sacred and cannot be hunted or harvested for timber. Also within the boundaries of Ulaanbaatar are the foothills of the Khentei ridge, surrounding the city from the east and north.

For most capital cities, the name is a constant value. Regardless of various fashion trends and historical upheavals, it is preserved and lives “for centuries.”

Ulaanbaatar has a slightly different fate, since its modern name the Mongolian capital received quite recently. Thus, in the 17th century, the capital of Mongolia was called Orgoo, and according to Russian tradition - Urga. IN XVIII century the city was called Da-Khure. In 1911 it was renamed the “Capital Monastery” - Niislel-Khure. Only in 1924, when the independent country of Mongolia appeared on the political map of the world, the capital of this state began to be called Ulaanbaatar, in honor national hero-revolutionary Sukhbaatar, under whose leadership the country was liberated from Chinese troops and troops of the Russian White Guard baron Ungern-Sternberg. Few people know that the full name of the capital of Mongolia is Ulaanbaatar-Khoto, meaning “city of the red hero” if translated into Russian.

A little history

The Mongolian capital owes its origins largely to Buddhism. It was after the influential feudal lord of the 17th century Tushetu Khan Gombo-Dorji, one of the direct descendants of Genghis Khan, proclaimed his young son the head of Buddhism in Mongolia, a nomadic monastery was created for him - Urga (Orgoo). In 1706, the name of the capital of Mongolia changed to Ikh-khuree, which translated means “great monastery”. It existed under this name until the beginning of the 20th century. In 1911, another renaming took place: Ikh-khuree became Niislel-khuree - the Capital Monastery. A year later, it was declared the capital of Mongolia, autonomous from China. In 1919, the capital of Mongolia was occupied by Chinese troops, which were opposed by White Guard troops led by Baron Ungern-Sternberg in 1920-1921. In 1921, the Mongolian People's Revolution broke out, led by Damdin Sukhbaatar.

In October 1924, by the decision of the first State Khural, Niislel-khuree became the capital of a new state - the Mongolian People's Republic. In addition, the city received its modern name- Ulaanbaatar (Ulaanbaatar in Mongolian) in honor of the leader of the revolutionary movement Sukhbaatar.

Post-revolutionary era

For the first 30 years of the last century, Ulaanbaatar was a vibrant and chaotic “cocktail” of Buddhist monasteries, felt yurts and adobe houses - that’s what Mongolia’s capital was like at that time. Only in the 40s of the 20th century were the development concept and plan for the regular development of the Mongolian capital developed. Architectural ensemble The Mongolian capital was developed by Soviet urban planners, since there simply were no specialists in the country. New buildings were first erected in the constructivist style, which was replaced by the Stalinist “empire” style.

Modern development

The appearance of the Mongolian capital until the 90s of the 20th century strongly resembled any Soviet small town. Then, new, completely modern buildings gradually began to appear, displacing traditional yurts to the outskirts of the city. Beginning of XXI Mongolia celebrated the century with the construction of the first and tallest skyscraper - Blue Sky Tower. This 25-story building rose above the Mongolian capital to a height of 105 meters. The capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, is home to the Academy of Sciences and the country's oldest university, founded in 1942.

The country's main transport hubs are also concentrated here: Chinggis Khan International Airport, the Moscow-Beijing highway, car roads. In addition, Ulaanbaatar today is an attractive city for tourists, which is home to many historical, religious and cultural monuments.

Administrative division

Officially, Ulaanbaatar is an independent administrative unit and has the status of “Ulsyn niislel” - “Capital of the State”. The entire city is divided into 9 administrative districts:

• Bayangol;
• Songinohairkhan;
• Bayanzurkh;
• Khan-Uul;
• Chingeltei;
• Sukhbaatar is the central district of the city, where most government, cultural and public organizations are located;
• Baganur;
• Nalaikh;
• Bagahangay.

The last three districts are satellite cities of the capital, somewhat distant from the center, but striving to merge with it.

What to see?

Until its demolition in 2005, the main attraction of the Mongolian capital was the mausoleum, which contained the remains of the revolutionary Sukhbaatar and one of the first leaders of Mongolia, Choibalsan, located in the central square of the city. Today, in its place, the Palace of State Ceremonial and Honor has been erected, the facade of which is decorated with the figure of Genghis Khan sitting on the throne.

To the right and left of him are equestrian statues of the great khans of the Mongol Empire - Kublai and Ogedei, as well as his two faithful nuker bodyguards - Boorchu and Mukhali.

There are quite a few museums in the Mongolian capital, and every traveler will be able to find something for themselves. Fans of fine art will find much to enjoy at the Museum of Art and Art Gallery. History buffs will be able to visit the National Museum of History and the Winter Palace of the last Emperor of Mongolia, Bogdykhan. No one will remain indifferent to an excursion to the Zhanrai-Sing temple and to the largest active Buddhist monastery in the country, Gandan.