Mongolia is landlocked in the heart of Eurasia, the greatest terrestrial mass of the globe.

It is
the 6th largest country in Asia and the 18th largest in the world occupying a territory of
approximately 1.6 million square kilometers, about the same surface area as France,
Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain and Portugal combined together.

The territory of Mongolia, primarily in the west and southwest, is covered with the following
three major mountain ranges accompanied by high plateaus.

- The chain of Alta in the west, the location of the countrys highest extremity (4,374 m),
which extends in arc reaching Gobi and forms the region of Gobi Alta;
- The Khanga Range in the central part (peak: 3,905 m), which is the principal water tower of
the country and the source of Selenge River, Mongolias largest river, flowing into Lake
Bakal, a gigantic inland sea, which extends in Russias Siberia to the north of the country;
- The Khentii Mounts, the native soils of Chingis Khan, with abundant forests and peaks rising
up to
2,800 m, which stretch to the east of the capital city.

The country has a significant network of numerous lakes, rivers, streams and springs located
mainly in the north.
The most famous of these lakes is unquestionably the lake Khovsgol located in the northwest
of the country. It is remarkable by far more the crowned aspect it represents for Mongols
than purely as an attraction for travellers. It is an immense blue lake (135 km long and 35
km wide) with crystal-clear, fresh water in the middle of a virtually alpine landscape
surrounded by primeval forests and overhung by majestic snow-covered mountains.

Mongolia has a widely varied topography. The north and west of the country are primarily
mountainous and covered with meadows, steppes and forests that support good pastures
and, thus, a settled, relatively dense population.
South Mongolia, made up mainly of sagging plates, is the cradle of the famous Gobi Desert,
the habitat of such rare mammals who are on the brink of extinction as Mazalai, Gobis brown
bear, black tail antelope and Havtgai, wild bactrian camel. The Gobis region is sparsely
populated with stockbreeders of camels, goats and sheep that are adapted to scarce
vegetation.
The countrys east is composed of vast steppes and plains extending to the east from the
Khentii Mounts.

Mongolia is wedged between two giants - Russia and China.

Until the 20th century, Mongolia had a territory twice as large as the current boundaries. The northern
part now forms part of Siberia and the southern part comprising most of the Gobi Desert became an
autonomous region of Inner Mongolia controlled by China.
The territory of Mongolia is divided into 21 main administrative units, including the municipality of
Ulaanbaatar and 21 provinces (known as aimags), which are further divided into 331 counties
(known as soums).