Mongolia

Asia

Northern Asia, between China and Russia.

46 00 N, 105 00 E

President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj	Prime Minister Sükhbaataryn Batbold

Capital
Ulan Bator

Government
Parliamentary republic

Religion
Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40%.

Population
3,086,918

Ethnic group
Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1%

National Language                    
Khalkha Mongol        

National Day
11 July 1921 (from China)

Anthem
"Монгол улсын төрийн дуулал" (National anthem of Mongolia)

Currency
Tögrög (MNT)

Attractions
Gobi Desert Nomad Camps, Khovsgol Lake Area
 
Website                  

Art & Cultural

The ICON

Yurt                                                                          A yurt (üi or kiz üi in Kazakh, ger in Mongolian) is a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by Turkic and Mongolian nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. A yurt is more home-like than a tent in shape and build, with thicker walls. Traditional yurts consist of a circular wooden frame carrying a felt cover. The felt is made from the wool of the flocks of sheep that accompany the pastoralists. The timber to make the external structure is not to be found on the treeless steppes, and must be obtained by trade in the valleys below. The frame consists of one or more lattice wall-sections, a door-frame, roof poles and a crown. Some styles of yurt have one or more columns to support the crown. The (self-supporting) wood frame is covered with pieces of felt. Depending on availability, the felt is additionally covered with canvas and/or sun-covers. The frame is held together with one or more ropes or ribbons. The structure is kept under compression by the weight of the covers, sometimes supplemented by a heavy weight hung from the center of the roof. They vary regionally, with straight or bent roof-poles, different sizes, and relative weight. A yurt is designed to be dismantled and the parts carried on camels or yaks to be rebuilt on another site.

Tsonjin Boldog