FACTS ABOUT MONGOLIA

Here are 19 fascinating facts about Mongolia:

1. Vast Land: Mongolia is the 18th largest country in the world by land area, covering approximately 1.6 million square kilometers. 1,564,116 km2 (603,909 sq mi)
2. Sparse Population: Despite its size, Mongolia is sparsely populated, with around 3.4 million people.
3. Nomadic Tradition: Traditional nomadic culture is still prevalent in Mongolia, with many people living in portable felt tents called "gers" or "yurts."
4. Chinggis Khan: Mongolia is the birthplace of Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, one of the largest empires in history.
5. Blue Sky Country: Mongolia is known as the "Land of the Blue Sky" because it enjoys over 250 sunny days a year.
6. National Symbol: The Soyombo is the Mongolian national symbol. It is attributed to Zanabazar, the 17th century leader of Mongolian Lamaism, a great statesman, and the father of Mongolian art and script. There are various interpretations of the Soyombo
7. Language: The official language of Mongolia is Mongolian, which belongs to the Altaic language family.
8. Traditional Diet: Meat and dairy products are staples of the Mongolian diet, with dishes like buuz (steamed dumplings) and khuushuur (fried meat pastry) being popular.
9. Gobi Desert: The Gobi Desert, one of the world's largest deserts, spans across southern Mongolia and northern China. It is 6^thlargest desert in the world.
10. Nomadic Diet: Airag, or fermented mare's milk, is a traditional Mongolian beverage consumed by nomadic herders.
11. Eagle Hunters: In western Mongolia, Kazakh nomads practice the ancient art of eagle hunting, where trained golden eagles are used to hunt foxes and other small prey. –click for related tour.
12. Naadam Festival: Naadam is Mongolia's largest festival, featuring traditional sports such as wrestling, horse racing, and archery.
13. Landlocked Country: Mongolia is entirely landlocked, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east, and west.
14. Extreme Temperatures: Mongolia experiences a continental climate, with temperatures ranging from -40°C (-40°F) in winter to 40°C (104°F) in summer.
15. Natural Resources: Mongolia is rich in natural resources, including coal, copper, gold, and uranium.
16. State Flag: The national flag of Mongolia features a combination of the Soyombo symbol and the national colors of red, blue, and yellow.
17. Kazakhs of Mongolia: there are about 110000 population of kazakh ethnic group in western Mongolia.
18. Khövsgöl Lake: Khövsgöl Nuur, located in northern Mongolia, is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia and contains about 1% of the world's fresh water.
19. Space Exploration: Mongolia launched its first satellite, MongolSat-1, into space in 2017, marking its entry into the space age.

These facts only scratch the surface of Mongolia's rich history, culture, and natural beauty!