Location: Between Siberian Russia and China

Area: 1,564,116km2 – the size of most of Western Europe

Relief: Mountains to the north, centre and southwest comprise 40% of the land; the remainder is rolling plateau with great expanses of steppe, semi-desert and desert plains.

Highest point: Khuiten peak (4374m) in the Tavan bogd range in the Altai Mountains.

Climate: Continental, marked by four seasons, with sharp variations.

Average temperature: +20C in summer and -24C in the winter

Government: Parliamentary democracy with a presidential election every four years

Politics: of Mongolia takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the President and the Government. The State Great Hural has one chamber consisting of 76 members.

Regions: 21 aimags (provinces) or administrative regions.

Populations: 3,177,899 (Male -1,562,970; Female - 1,615,529); statistic 2018/03/30.

Capital: Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator), formerly known as Urga; abbreviated to UB.

Language: Mongolia (an Altaic language); Russian and English widely spoken.

Religion: Predominately Tibetan Buddhism; Christianity; Islam among the Muslim minorities in the west; traces of ancient Shamanism

National anthem: Khairt Mongol Oronoo Manduuliya (‘Let us make our Beloved Country Flourish’)

Public holidays: New Year’s Day (1 January), Tsagaan sar (three-day New Year holiday, celebrated late January or early February), international Women’s Day (8 March), Mother and Child day (1 June), Naadam (National holiday 11-13 July), Genghis Khan day (November*), Independence Day (29 December)* lunar calendar.

Tourist season: Mid May to mid-September (peak season July-August)

Entry regulations: Full valid passport with an entry and exit visa

Health: Before 1921 there was no modern medicine and Mongolians relied on traditional healers, but during the communist/socialist period (1921-90) the improvements in health were remarkable and included the rural population. Mongolia doesn’t have specifically recommended any inoculations or vaccinations prior to visiting. To reduce the risk of illness while travelling within Mongolia, visitors are advised to follow all usual precautions. Peel fruit and wash vegetables Avoid using un-boiled milk and local dairy produce Boil water Cook meat thoroughly A range of basic drugs and medicines are available though. Air and Rail access: Via the international airport in Ulaanbaatar, or by rail via China or Russia.

Road links: Ulaanbaatar to Ulan-Ude in Russia and Erlian (Erenhot) in China

Currency: Tugrug (abbreviated to T, Tg or MTG).

Hotels: Available at reasonable prices in the capital with few hotels outside UB.

Ger camps: The normal accommodation in the countryside.

TV system: PAL, SECAM

Weights and measures: Metric system

Electricity: 220V/50Hz with two pin sockets (straight sided)

International telephone code: +976

Time: Three time zones. The three westernmost provinces of Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs and Khovd are one hour behind the capital; Dornod, Sukhbaatar and Khentii are one hour ahead. The rest of the country follows Ulaanbaatar time: GMT +7 or +8 hours depending on summer or winter.

Education: Mongolian scrips: Mongolia has used a number of scripts throughout its history but the most used has been the Uighur Mongolian scrip. Uighur Mongolia script- In 1204 – today, created by the Tata-Tonga. Galik alphabet- In 1587, created by the translator and scholar Ayuush Güüsh Todo alphabet- In 1648, created by the Oirat Buddhist monk Zaya Pandita Phags-pa script (Square script) - In 1269, designed by the Tibetan monk Drogön Chögyal Phagpa for Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan dynasty Soyombo script- In 1686, created by the Mongolian monk and scholar Bogdo Zanabazar Horizontal square script- around the same time, Zanabazar also developed the horizontal square script, which was only rediscovered in 1801 Latin script- In 1941, Mongolia officially adopted a Latin alphabet Cyrillic script- In 1946, the most recent Mongolian alphabet is a based on the Cyrillic script.

Ethnic groups: Over 20 different ethnic. Mongolian population has consisted of many different nomadic tribes from ancient time until present day. 81.5% of Khalkha Mongol…