Mongolia stands as a vast and rugged masterpiece of nature between the borders of Russia and China. While many people associate the country with the legendary Genghis Khan, this land offers many more hidden treasures. Indeed, you can find ancient fossils and untouched wilderness stretching across its endless steppes. Furthermore, the local culture blends deep spiritual traditions with a modern resilient spirit that thrives in extreme climates.
Mongolia
Mongolia is the most sparsely populated sovereign nation on the entire planet. Specifically, it has a density of only two people for every square kilometer of land. Consequently, this gives residents a tremendous amount of personal space and quiet compared to crowded cities.
The country officially houses more horses than humans within its wide borders. There are roughly four million horses compared to a human population of about 3.5 million. Therefore, horses remain a central pillar of the Mongolian identity and daily nomadic life.
Bogd Khan Uul is the oldest national park in the world and predates Yellowstone by over a century. The local government established this protected area in 1778 to honor a sacred mountain. Thus, it has served as a sanctuary for wildlife and ancient trees for hundreds of years.
The Gobi Desert became famous in 1923 as the first place where humans discovered dinosaur eggs. Paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews found these fossilized nests and changed our understanding of prehistoric life. Indeed, these desert cliffs still hide thousands of fossils waiting for future discovery.
Mongolians consider their country the “Land of the Blue Sky” because they enjoy over 250 sunny days annually. This clear weather persists even during the brutal winter months when temperatures drop significantly. However, the high altitude ensures that even a sunny day can feel very chilly.
Ulaanbaatar holds the title of the coldest capital city in the world. During the winter, the mercury often plunges to minus 40 degrees Celsius for weeks at a time. To cope, street vendors sell ice cream from paper boxes without any refrigeration.
Many residents still live in traditional portable felt tents known as gers. These structures are perfectly designed so families can dismantle and move them in under an hour. This flexibility allows nomadic families to follow their livestock to new pastures every season.
The traditional “Long Song” involves vocal sounds that can last for several minutes without a break. This ancient musical art form is a UNESCO protected heritage that expresses deep emotions for the land. Moreover, singers use complex techniques to mimic the sounds of the wind.
Mongolian throat singing allows a single performer to produce two different pitches at the same time. The singer uses their throat and nose to create a low drone and a high-pitched melody simultaneously. In fact, this beautiful skill often appears during festivals and social gatherings.
A mother who raises five or more children receives the prestigious title of “Honored Mother” from the state. The government awards these women special medals to celebrate their contribution to the nation’s future. Families take great pride in these awards and display them prominently.
The endangered two-humped Bactrian camel is a native species that thrives in the harsh Gobi climate. These resilient animals can survive for months without water and endure extreme temperature swings. Every year, the Thousand Camel Festival celebrates these “ships of the desert.”
Residents traditionally serve guests a bowl of fermented horse milk known as airag. This national drink has a sour, sparkling taste and contains many essential vitamins for the nomadic diet. Refusing a bowl is quite impolite, so visitors should at least take a small sip.
Genghis Khan introduced the first writing system to his people despite being illiterate himself. He borrowed the script from the Uyghur people. Today, many Mongolians are returning to this beautiful traditional script alongside modern Cyrillic.
The Naadam Festival features the “three manly sports” of wrestling, horse racing, and archery. Children as young as five years old compete in high-speed horse races across the open steppe. These events showcase the incredible strength and skill inherited from the great Mongol Empire.
Finally, if you accidentally touch someone with your foot, you must immediately shake their hand. This quick gesture serves as an apology for the mistake and shows respect to the other person. Small customs like this maintain social harmony in the close-knit nomadic communities.
