19 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^th largest 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!