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Chapter 1: Geography
Introduction
Mongolia is one of Asia’s bigger countries, but it
was once much larger. Up until the 20th century,
Mongolia contained much of southern Siberia and
all of Inner Mongolia. These regions are now part
of Russia and China, respectively. Nevertheless,
Mongolia today is still twice the size of Texas and
is the world’s second-largest landlocked country.
(Only Kazakhstan is larger.)1, 2 Within
Mongolia’s southern vast expanses lie some of
Earth’s most arid terrain, historically a treasure
trove for hunters of dinosaur fossils.^3 Grasslands, mountains, numerous freshwater and
saltwater lakes, and even glaciers are some of the geographical features observed in other
parts of the country.^4
Located between Russia and China, Mongolia contains vast reserves of natural
resources—including the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold reserves worth an
estimated USD 5 billion.
(^5) Other natural resources in Mongolia include coal, zinc, and
“nearly one million tons of reasonably assured uranium.”^6
(^1) Michael Koln, “Environment: The Land,” in Mongolia, 5th ed. (Footscray, Victoria, Australia: Lonely
Planet Publications, 2008), 48.
(^2) Central Intelligence Agency, “Country Comparison: Area,” in The World Factbook, 2011,
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=Mongolia&countryCode=mg®ionCode=eas&rank=
9#mg
(^3) American Museum of Natural History, “Fighting Dinosaurs: New Discoveries From Mongolia,” n.d.,
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/fightingdinos/
(^4) Kadota Tustomu and Davaa Gombo, “Recent Glacier Variations in Mongolia,” Annals of Glaciology 26,
185, http://www.igsoc.org/annals/46/a46A148.pdf
(^5) Mark Fonseca Rendeiro, “Mongolia’s Mining Wealth a Cause for Concern,” The Guardian, 15 May 2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/15/mongolia-mining-wealth-concern
(^6) Mongolia-Web.com, “Mongolia to Start Uranium Exploration Next Year,” Mining and Minerals, 11
March, 2011, http://mongolia-web.com/mining?start=