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Introduction to Mongolia |
Territory: 603,899 square miles (1,564,100 square kilometers). Mongolia is landlocked and surrounded by Russia to the north and China to the south, at an average altitude of one mile above sea level. Ulaanbaatar, the capital, is at an altitude of 4,300 feet. Population: 2.6 million - 57 percent live in urban areas. Density: 4 persons per square mile (1.5 persons per square kilometer). Climate: Continental.
Terrain: Mountains (40%) and rolling plateaus with vast
semi-desert and desert plains in the Regions: 21 Aimags (provinces) divided into Sums (counties). Capital: Ulaanbaatar (means: Red Hero) - 900,000 official inhabitants. Approximately 40% of the population lives in Ulaanbaatar. Other population centers are Erdenet, site of one of the world's largest copper mines, and Darkhan, the second largest city. Government: Parliamentary system with a president elected every 4 years. Mongolia has transitioned from a highly centralized communist state to a full-fledged, multiparty, parliamentary democracy. The 1992 Mongolian Constitution established a uni-cameral legislature and a directly elected President with relatively limited powers. The majority party or coalition in Parliament nominates the Prime Minister. The State Great Hural (Parliament) votes for or against the Prime Minister. The President can veto Parliament’s choice of Prime Minister. However, Parliament can overturn a presidential veto. Mongolia proved the strength of democratic institutions
with four successful and fair elections Economy: Based on agriculture, livestock breeding (camels, cows, goats, horses and sheep), and mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, and gold). There is also a small but growing manufacturing sector. After years of structural reform and privatization, the private sector now produces the vast majority of the country’s GDP. Religions: Buddhism (94 percent), Islam, various Christian faiths, and shamanism. Language: The official language is Mongolian. Russian is still the most widely spoken foreign language, but English is quickly overtaking Russian among Mongolia’s youth. Foreign language instruction has increased dramatically, and more teachers are being trained to teach foreign languages. Now Mongolians are learning English, German, French, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. The official script is Mongolian Cyrillic (Russian alphabet plus two additional letters). Time: GMT +8 hours. Currency: Tugrik. $1 = 1,135 (April 2003). All currency must be registered with Mongolian customs when entering and departing the country. Exchange bureaus are located in most hotels. Some hotels, restaurants, and stores accept credit cards including American Express, Visa, Master Card, and Diners Club. There are also several ATMs with international links located throughout the capital city. Electric current: The standard voltage is 220 volts/50Hz. Sockets require a two-pin type plug or an adapter. Communications: International direct dial telephone is available in most hotels. Country code: 976, Ulaanbaatar city code is 11. Internet, email, and fax connections are readily available in most large urban areas. EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Safety: There have been no acts of terrorism, kidnappings, and incidents with organized crime or extremist groups in Mongolia. There are no regions of instability in the country. Tourist season: May to October (peak season: July-August). Accommodation: There are hotels with standard amenities in Ulaanbaatar, but few hotels exist outside of the capital. In the countryside, there are ger camps (encampments of 15 to 40 gers). Each ger usually accommodates four persons. Most tourist camps have a restaurant and are equipped with toilets and showers with hot water. Food: The Mongolian diet is largely based on dairy products,
mutton, and beef. Restaurants in Ulaanbaatar offer traditional Mongolian
food as well as European and Asian cuisine. The Taxis: Taxi service is available in most large urban
areas. Private vehicles also serve as taxis. Indicative prices:
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