Editing Mongolia (section)

== Geography and climate ==
{{Main|Geography of Mongolia}}
[[File:Mongolia 1996 CIA map.jpg|thumb|The southern portion of Mongolia is taken up by the [[Gobi Desert]], while the northern and western portions are mountainous.]]

At {{convert|1564116|km2|mi2|0|abbr=on}}, Mongolia is the world's [[List of sovereign states and dependencies by area|18th-largest]] country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Country Comparison :: Area |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209041128/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html |archive-date=February 9, 2014 |access-date=2013-06-28 |website=The World Factbook |publisher=CIA |df=mdy-all}}</ref> It is significantly larger than the next-largest country, Peru. It mostly lies between latitudes [[41st parallel north|41°]] and [[52nd parallel north|52°N]] (a small area is north of 52°), and longitudes [[87th meridian east|87°]] and [[120th meridian east|120°E]]. As a point of reference the northernmost part of Mongolia is on roughly the same latitude as Berlin (Germany) and Saskatoon (Canada), while the southernmost part is on roughly the same latitude as Rome (Italy) and Chicago (USA). The westernmost part of Mongolia is on roughly the same longitude as Kolkata in India, while the easternmost part is on the same longitude as Qinhuangdao and Hangzhou in China, as well as the western edge of Taiwan. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its westernmost point is only {{convert|36.76|km}} from Kazakhstan, nearly making a [[quadripoint]].

The geography of Mongolia is varied, with the [[Gobi Desert]] to the south and cold, mountainous regions to the north and west. Much of Mongolia consists of the [[Mongolian-Manchurian grassland]], with forested areas accounting for 11.2% of the total land area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mongolian Forestry Sector |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/w8302e/w8302e05.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101015229/http://www.fao.org/docrep/w8302e/w8302e05.htm |archive-date=November 1, 2012 |access-date=May 31, 2013 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The whole of Mongolia is considered to be part of the Mongolian Plateau. The highest point in Mongolia is the [[Khüiten Peak]] in the [[Tavan bogd]] massif in the far west at {{convert|4374|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}. The basin of the [[Uvs Lake]], shared with [[Tuva Republic]] in Russia, is a natural [[World Heritage Site]].

=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Mongolia|Climate change in Mongolia}}

Mongolia is known as the "Land of the Eternal Blue Sky" or "Country of Blue Sky" (Mongolian: "Mönkh khökh tengeriin oron") because it has over 250 sunny days a year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mongolia Climate – Retrieve the average temperatures and rains in Mongolia & in Ulaan baatar |url=http://www.e-mongol.com/mongolia_climate.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203003217/http://www.e-mongol.com/mongolia_climate.htm |archive-date=February 3, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-05-31 |title=Country Nicknames: Top 40 best nation aliases |url=http://www.skyscanner.net/news/country-nicknames-top-40-best-nation-aliases |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101070834/http://www.skyscanner.net/news/country-nicknames-top-40-best-nation-aliases |archive-date=January 1, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nomadic trails in the land of the blue sky |url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20140113-nomadic-trails-in-the-land-of-the-blue-sky |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022131450/http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20140113-nomadic-trails-in-the-land-of-the-blue-sky |archive-date=October 22, 2014 |website=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 7, 2004 |title=''Weeping Camel:'' A Real Mongolian Tear-Jerker |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0719_040719_weepingcamel_2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094123/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0719_040719_weepingcamel_2.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |website=National Geographic}}</ref>

[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map MNG present.svg|thumb|left|Köppen climate classification zones in Mongolia]]
Most of the country is hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter, with January averages dropping as low as {{convert|-30|°C}}.<ref name="mong26">{{Cite web |year=2004 |title=Republic of Mongolia |url=http://www.imcg.net/gpd/asia/mongolia.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002003846/http://www.imcg.net/gpd/asia/mongolia.pdf |archive-date=October 2, 2006 |access-date=2008-02-10}}</ref> A vast front of cold, heavy, shallow air comes in from Siberia in winter and collects in river valleys and low basins causing very cold temperatures while slopes of mountains are much warmer due to the effects of [[temperature inversion]] (temperature increases with altitude).

In winter the whole of Mongolia comes under the influence of the [[Siberian Anticyclone]]. The localities most severely affected by this cold weather are Uvs province ([[Ulaangom]]), western Khovsgol ([[Rinchinlkhumbe, Khovsgol|Rinchinlhumbe]]), eastern Zavkhan ([[Tosontsengel, Zavkhan|Tosontsengel]]), northern Bulgan (Hutag) and eastern Dornod province (Khalkhiin Gol). Ulaanbaatar is strongly, but less severely, affected. The cold gets less severe as one goes south, reaching the warmest January temperatures in Omnogovi Province ([[Dalanzadgad]], [[Khanbogd, Ömnögovi|Khanbogd]]) and the region of the Altai mountains bordering China. A unique microclimate is the fertile grassland-forest region of central and eastern Arkhangai Province ([[Tsetserleg (city)|Tsetserleg]]) and northern Ovorkhangai Province ([[Arvaikheer]]) where January temperatures are on average the same and often higher than the warmest desert regions to the south in addition to being more stable. The [[Khangai Mountains]] play a certain role in forming this microclimate. In Tsetserleg, the warmest town in this microclimate, nighttime January temperatures rarely go under {{convert|-30|°C}} while daytime January temperatures often reach {{convert|0|°C}} to {{convert|5|°C}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 24, 2013 |title=Arkhangai Meteorological Department |url=http://www.icc.mn/aimag/Arkhangai/# |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110204130/http://www.icc.mn/aimag/Arkhangai/ |archive-date=January 10, 2014 |access-date=2013-06-28 |publisher=Icc.mn |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate History for Tsetserleg, Mongolia |url=http://www.wunderground.com/history/station/44282/2007/1/11/MonthlyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616141615/http://www.wunderground.com/history/station/44282/2007/1/11/MonthlyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA |archive-date=June 16, 2013 |access-date=2013-06-28 |publisher=Weather Underground |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
[[File:Gorkhi-Terelj National Park.jpg|thumb|The [[Khentii Mountains]] in [[Gorkhi-Terelj National Park|Terelj]], close to the birthplace of Genghis Khan]]
The country is subject to occasional harsh climatic conditions known as ''[[zud]].'' It results in large proportions of the country's livestock dying from starvation or freezing temperatures or both, resulting in economic upheaval for the largely pastoral population. The annual average temperature in Ulaanbaatar is {{cvt|−1.3|°C}}, making it the world's coldest capital city.<ref name=mong26/> Mongolia is high, cold and windy.<ref name=":0">{{citation-attribution|1={{Cite encyclopedia |title=The Society and Its Environment |encyclopedia=Mongolia: a country study |publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]] |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/90006289/ |last=DeGlopper |first=Donald R. |date=1991 |editor-last=Worden |editor-first=Robert L. |language=en |oclc=622910663 |editor-last2=Savada |editor-first2=Andrea Matles |access-date=29 October 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329021801/https://www.loc.gov/item/90006289/ |url-status=live }}}}</ref> It has an extreme continental climate with long, cold winters and short summers, during which most of its annual precipitation falls.<ref name=":0" /> The country averages 257 cloudless days a year, and it is usually at the center of a region of high atmospheric pressure.<ref name=":0" /> Precipitation is highest in the north (average of {{convert|200|to|350|mm|in|0|sp=us}} per year) and lowest in the south, which receives {{convert|100|to|200|mm|in|0|sp=us}} annually.<ref name=":0" /> The highest annual precipitation of {{convert|622.297|mm|3|abbr=on}} occurred in the forests of [[Bulgan Province]] near the border with Russia and the lowest of {{convert|41.735|mm|3|abbr=on}} occurred in the Gobi Desert (period 1961–1990).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual average temperature and precipitation of Mongolia |url=http://gis.wwf.mn/index.php/en/national/15-climate-of-mongolia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110195205/http://gis.wwf.mn/index.php/en/national/15-climate-of-mongolia |archive-date=January 10, 2014 |access-date=2013-06-28 |publisher=Gis.wwf.mn |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The sparsely populated far north of Bulgan Province averages {{convert|600|mm|0|abbr=on}} in annual precipitation which means it receives more precipitation than Beijing ({{cvt|571.8|mm|disp=or}}) or Berlin ({{cvt|571|mm|disp=or}}).

=== Environmental issues ===
{{Excerpt|Environmental issues in Mongolia}}

=== Wildlife ===
{{Main|Wildlife of Mongolia}}
[[File:KhongorynElsCamels.jpg|thumb|[[Bactrian camels]] by sand dunes in Gobi Desert]]

The name "Gobi" is a Mongol term for a desert steppe, which usually refers to a category of arid rangeland with insufficient vegetation to support [[marmot]]s but with enough to support camels.<ref name=":0" /> Mongols distinguish Gobi from desert proper, although the distinction is not always apparent to outsiders unfamiliar with the Mongolian landscape.<ref name=":0" />

Gobi rangelands are fragile and easily destroyed by overgrazing, which results in expansion of the true desert, a stony waste where not even [[Bactrian camel]]s can survive.<ref name=":0" /> The arid conditions in the Gobi are attributed to the [[rain shadow effect]] caused by the Himalayas. Before the Himalayas were formed by the collision of the Indo-Australian plate with the Eurasian plate 10 million years ago, Mongolia was a flourishing habitat for major fauna but still somewhat arid and cold due to distance from sources of evaporation. Sea turtle and mollusk fossils have been found in the Gobi, apart from well-known dinosaur fossils. [[Tadpole shrimps]] are still found in the Gobi today. The eastern part of Mongolia including the [[Onon River|Onon]] and [[Kherlen River|Kherlen]] rivers and [[Lake Buir]] form part of the [[Amur river]] basin draining to the Pacific Ocean. It hosts some unique species like the Eastern brook lamprey, Daurian crayfish (''cambaroides dauricus'') and Daurian pearl oyster (''dahurinaia dahurica'') in the Onon/Kherlen rivers as well as Siberian prawn (''exopalaemon modestus'') in Lake Buir.