Nature of Mongolia

Climate

The climate and climatic recourses of Mongolia are determined by the geographical location, relief, structure and altitude above sea-level. Mongolia is high, cold, dry and has an extreme continental climate with long, cold winters and short summers, during which most precipitation falls. The country averages 260 cloudless days a year and it is usually at the center of a region of high atmospheric pressure.Precipitation is highest in the North, which averages 20-35 centimeters per year, and lowest in the South, which receives 10-20 centimeters.The south is the Gobi Desert, some regions of which receive no precipitation at all in most years.Average temperatures over most of the country are below freezing from November through March and are about freezing in April and October.January and February averages of -20o C are common, with winter nights -40o C occurring most years.Summer extremes reach as high as 38o C in southern Gobi region and 33o C in Ulaanbaatar.



Natural zones and belts

Mongolia is one of the few countries, which possesses a great range of natural ecosystems within their borders.Mongolia is located at the junction of Siberian taiga and Central Asian prairie steppe and deserts, and therefore specific species of fauna and flora are included in the territory. Mongolia is divided into six basic natural zones, differing in climate, landscape, soil, flora and fauna.

1.High Mountain belt.Mongolia is Mountainous country.Though the high mountain zone, which includes the higher elevations of these ranges, makes up only about 5 percent territory of Mongolia Many mountain areas of Mongolia show signs of previous Ice Ages, with U-shaped valleys and boulders left behind by retreating glaciers. The climate in the high mountain zone is extremely cold , and there is a short growing season.Located above tree line, the zone is characterized by tundra, alpine-sedge meadows, highland swamps, and lichen- covered boulder fields.

2.Mountain-Taiga belt.Taiga belt which covers 5 percent of Mongolian territory occurs only innorthern Mongolia, where it is found in the Khentii Mountains, in the mountainous terrain around Lake Khuvsgul, back part of Tarvagatai mountain range, first higher place near Orkhon river and some parts of Khan Khukhii mountain range. The main formations of the mountain-taiga are cedar and cedar-larch tree forests.Taiga forests species are: Pinus sibirica, Larix sibirica, L.dahurica, Picea ovobata and Abies sibirica. Typical taiga vegetation is dense low shrub formation, which is frequent in the swampy beds of the Khentii mountain valley. The taiga belt experiences more precipitation (12 to 16 inches annually) and lower temperatures than most of Mongolia, therefore plant growing period is comparatively short. Stepping considerably affects the edge of Taiga belt and steppe elements penetrated to sides and along wide trenches of shorter mountains.

3.Mountain steppe zone. A natural alternation of forests along the northern slopes and steppes in other elements of the topography creates unique landscapes in many parts of Mongolia, which could be called Mountain forest-steppe. Mountain steppes are widespread in the Hangai, khentii and Mongolian Altai mountain ranges. By its nature, the mountain steppe flora includes typically mountain-steppe species-( Poa, Festuca, Koeleria) with an abundant combination of alpine species.

4. Steppe zone. Steppe covers nearly the entire far-eastern part of Mongolia, extending west in a narrowing band just south of the Khangai and Khan Khukhii Mountains all the way to the Depression of the Great Lakes. Mongolia's steppe lies in the eastern part of the vast plain that begins in Eastern Europe and reaches to the steppes of Manchuria. The steppe zone includes a distinctive group of flora and fauna. In the central and western areas of the country, the steppe provides many of the nation's most important grazing lands for domestic livestock. The steppe is vulnerable to impacts from overgrazing, agriculture, roads and other human activities.

5. Desert Steppe zone. Desert steppe occupies a large band, more than 20 percent of Mongolia's area, extending across the country between the steppe and desert zones. This zone includes the Depression of the Great Lakes, the Valley of the lakes, and most of the area between the Khangai and Altai mountain ranges, as well as the eastern Gobi area. The zone includes many low-lying areas, soils with salt pans, and small ponds. The climate is arid with frequent droughts and annual precipitation of 100-125 mm, (4-5 inches) and frequent strong winds and dust storms strongly influence the area vegetation. Still, many nomadic herders of Mongolia occupy this zone.

6. Gobi Desert zone:
The Gobi is one of the great deserts in the world, occupying much of southern Mongolia and northeastern China and composing the northern part of Central Asian deserts. Starkly beautiful, the expanses of the fabled Gobi are rugged and inhospitable. Vegetation is sparse here, and the zone displays a remarkable variety, from rocky mountain massifs to the flat pavement-like areas of the super-arid desert, from poplar-fringed oases to vast out wash plains and areas of sand dunes. These areas provide habitat for many threatened species of Mongolia, including the wild camel, Gobi bear, and wild ass. Climate is extreme. Precipitation may fall only once every two to three years and averages less than 100 mm (4 inches) annually. Temperatures climb as high as 40° С (104° F) in summer, and fall as low as -40° (104° F) С in winter. During the spring and fall, dangerously strong winds buffet the area with dust storms and wind-speeds up to 140 km/ hour.


Flora

The vegetation of Mongolia is very distinctive and heterogeneous because of the country’s location at the junction of two large floristic regions of the earth-the Siberian taiga, sub-region covering the northern part of the country, and the Central Asian dessert-steppe, sub-regions Ancient Mediterranean.

Vegetation in the northern region, as a natural continuation of the south Siberian vegetation, differs very little from the latter. The dessert-steppe and dessert vegetation, although considerably poorer, but distinctive by its composition, is represented by the Central Asian proper floristic complex, connected only with the south-west of the country.

Mongolia has about 3000 plant species, while central Siberia has 2,400 and Inner Mongolia has 2,176.

There are 845 species of medicinal plants; over 1,000 of fodder plants; 173 of food plants; 489 of ornamental plants; and 195 of other significant plants. At present Mongolia have 2,095 species of herbaceous plant and 348 species of woody and shrubby plants. These comprise 17 species of big trees; 40 species of short trees and shrub; 146 species of shrub; 48 species of sub-shrubs; 91 species of partial sub-shrubs; 6 species of fodder and herbaceous; 1,765 species of longevity plants; 330 species of one- and two-aged vascular plants; 21 families of flat moss; 38 families of leafy moss; 53 families of lichen; 1,236 species and sub-species of algae; and 900 species of mushrooms. There are relic species from prehistoric desert, forests, tertiary lakes, savannahs and the Ice Age. Many plants relics are native to Mongolia. There are about 150 endemic vascular and lower plants, such as stipa mongolorum; adonis mongolica; betula mongolica; atraphaxis bracteata; calligonum gobicum; nanophyton mongolicum; gymnocarpus przewalskii; silene mongolica; potaninia mongolica; chesneya mongolica; astragalus gobicus; oxytropis ulzii-chutagii; and armisia gobica.

The Khangai, Gobi-Altai and Mongolian Altai regions are the most abundant in species. 86 plant species were registered as endangered or threatened in the first edition of the Mongolian Red Book. In the second edition (1997), the number was already 128. This group includes 75 medicinal species, 11 of food, 16 used in industry, 55 decorative species and 15 species used in soil fixing or controlling pests. The group includes nitraria sibirica; amygdalus mongolica; populus diversifolia; caragana bungei; artemisia caespitosa; sophora alopecuroides; allium altaicum; adonis mongolica; saussurea involucrate; agriophyllum pungens; elaeagnes moorcroftii; aves sibirica; gemnocvarpus przewalskii; rodiola rosea; and allium oliquum.

Parliament passed a law on the international Trading of animals and plants, and related items in 2007. The law is in line with its membership



Fauna

Mongolia is rich in fauna and is home to some of the world’s rarest wildlife. The more exotic rare species include the snow leopard (Uncia uncia), the Gobi bear (Urcus arctos) and the wild ancestors of three of mankind’s most important domesticated animals -­­­­the wild camel (Camelus bactrainus ferus), the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus luteus) and przewalski’s horse (Equus przewalskii).

Mammals in Mongolia: Currently 136 species of mammals concerning 8 classes, 22 families, 70 types of mammals have been registered in Mongolia; most of them are endemic in Central Asia. 60 species of them are hunted as they are game animals.

Birds of Mongolia: Mongolia has a rich composition of bird species due to the migratory routes from the Pacific and Indian Oceans to the Mediterranean Sea and to Arctic Ocean and Northern Tundra... 426 species of birds have been observed in Mongolia- 322 species or 78% are migrated. 30 species of birds are included in the "Red book of Mongolia" as they are concerned as rare and endangered. And some lakes as Khovsgul, Uvs, Khar Us, Dayan, Dorgon, Terkhiin Tsagaan and also some rivers where high density of birds is observed have been strictly protected partially. Birds such as Grus leucogeranus, Grus vipio, Chlamydotis undulata, ciconia migra, Pelecanus crispus, Platalea leucorodia, Anas formosa, Limnodromus semipalmatus, Larus relictus have been protected.



Fish of Mongolia: Mongolia has 75 species of fishes. Fish that are not listed in the "Red book of Mongolia" are sport fish. Common fish in Mongolia: taimen, great kalyga, strugeons, arctis cisco, Siberian whitefish, pikes- amur pike, northern pike, cyprinid fish, carp, roach, dwaft altai osman, Mongolian grayling, Mongolian redfin, look up, haitej sculpin...


Reptiles in Mongolia: Currently 22 species of reptiles have been registered in the country such as also phyla pipiens, teratoscincus przwalskii, cyrtopodion elongatus, laudakia stoliczkana, phrynocephalus vesicular, phrynocephalus helioscopus, lacerta agilis, lacerta vivipara, eryx tataricus, elaphe dione, coluber spinalis, elaphe schrenckii, natrix natrix, vipera berus, qkistrodon halys... most of these reptiles are endemic.
Amphibians in Mongolia: In the world currently, 3 types, 29 families, 3000 species of insects have been registered, of which 2 types, 4 families of 8 species of amphibians have been observed in Mongolia such as Bufo danatensis, Salamandrella keyserlingii, Rana chensinensis, Hyla japonica, bufo raddei, ...some of the amphibians are endemi

Insects in Mongolia: Insect life is the richest in the wild life of Mongolia as 13000 species of insects are observed in the country.