Mongolia is a vast land-locked country bounded by Russia in the north and China in the south. The total area of the country is 1.565 million square kilometers (slightly smaller than Alaska). The terrain includes semi-desert and desert plains (the Gobi desert is in the South), vast grassy steppes, and mountain ranges in the west and southwest. The country is located on an elevated rocky plateau above sea level. The lowest point is Hoh Nuur and is 518 meters (1,700 feet) above sea level. The highest point is Huyten Orgil, 4,374 meters (14,350 feet) above sea level.
Mongolia is famous for its founder, Chinngis (Genghis) Khan, who in the 13th century began forming the largest empire history has ever known. The Mongol Empire streched from Korea and China to Russia and Iraq. His descendants expanded the empire into Eastern Europe (reaching as far as Austria) the Middle East, and all of China. After the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Manchuria ruled over the Mongols for 400 years. On July 11, 1921, with Soviet backing, Mongolia declared its independence. The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party ruled the country until 1996, when a democratic coalition won a majority in parliamentary elections, ending the 75-year Communist era.
The Mongolian climate is continental which means the weather has significant daily and seasonal temperature changes. Winters are cold and harsh, and temperatures can fall to -40C (-40F). Summer temperatures can reach up to 30-35C (86-95F). Though the summer days can be hot, nights can be chilly. Dust storms are frequent in spring. Grassland and forest fires are common in summer.
Mongolia is rich in natural resources such as gold, silver, iron, oil, and gemstones; these are among the country's primary exports.
The Mongolian population is predominately comprised of Khalkha Mongols. Khalkha Mongolian is the country's official language and is part of the Altaic group of languages. English is a very popular second language. Tibetan Buddhist Lamaism is by far the predominant religion in Mongolia. Shamanism, Islam and Christianity are also practiced.
The best way to reach Mongolia is by air. Mongolian International Air Transportation (MIAT) or Mongolian Airlines is the major Mongolian airline. MIAT serves destinations in Europe, Russia and Asia. Mongolia is also accessible by train from Russia and China on the Trans-Siberian railway. Domestic travel is possible by train, air and road.
Living expenses are considerably lower than those in the West.
Civil unrest is extremely rare. Violent crimes are on the rise, but still are relatively low. However, minor crimes such as pickpocketing and theft are problematic.
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