Location:
Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
1,564,116 sq km
country comparison to the world: 19
land:
1,553,556 sq km
water:
10,560 sq km
slightly smaller than Alaska
total:
8,220 km
border countries:
China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
More Climate Details
vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
lowest point:
Hoh Nuur 560 m
highest point:
Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
arable land:
0.39%
permanent crops:
0%
other:
99.61% (2011)
843 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
34.8 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
0.55 cu km/yr (13%/43%/44%)
per capita:
196.8 cu m/yr (2009)
dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions
limited natural freshwater resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia