About Mongolia

Mongolia is truly one of the world's last undiscovered travel destinations and the safest country to visit. It is a land to experience wide-open spaces, cobalt blue skies, forests, deserts, crystal clear rivers and lakes, and the traditional hospitality of the nomads. Permanent dwellings are few and far between, fences even fewer, the land is owned by the people - it is like one large National Park. A tremendous destination to experience the outdoors and a unique history dating back to the Mongol Empire of Genghis Khan. Simply put: a land of adventure, the horse king country, land of nomads, and the land of blue sky.

Mongolia basic information

Population:	2.8 million
Area:	1,566,000 sq km (610,740 sq mi)
Land boundaries:	8,158 km, with Russia 3,485 km and with China 4,673 km
Average altitude:	1,580 m above sea-level
Terrain:	Vast semi-desert and desert plains, mountains in west and south-west, Gobi Desert in south-east
People:	Khalkha Mongols (86%), Kazaks (6%), about a dozen other Mongolian ethnic groups
Languages:	Mongolian, Kazakh, Russian, Chinese. English is widely spoken in the Ulaanbaatar.
Religions:	Tibetan Buddhism, Muslim, Christian and Shamanism
Literacy rate:	82.9%
Climate:	Average summer temperature +20'C, average winter temperature -26'C, average rainfall 200-220 mm. Winter lasts from November to late April, Spring May through June, Summer from July through to September.
Political system:	Parliamentary republic. President elected for four years. Present President Enkhbayar Nambar, elected in 2005. Prime Minister appointed by State Great Khural for four years. Present Prime Minister Mr. Enkbold Miegonbo was appointed in 2006.
Legislature:	State Great Khural (Parliament), unicameral with 76 members elected for four years. The last election was held on 2 Juny, 2004.
Judicial system:	Mongolian judicial system consists of Constitutional Court , Supreme Court, Aimag and capital city courts, soum and district courts.
State structure:	Mongolia is a unitary state and divided administratively into Aimags (21) and a capital city; Aimags are subdivided into soums; soums into bags; and a capital city into districts; districts into khoroos.
National currency:	Tugrik (MNT), about MNT 1230 = USD 1 in December, 2005
Fiscal year:	January 1 - December 31
Main entry points:	Buyant Ukhaa (airport in Ulaanbaatar ), Sukhbaatar (railway station on Mongolian-Russian border) and Zamyn Uud (railway station on Mongolian-Chinese border)
Sea access:	Tianjin/China (1,344 km) and Nakhodka/Russia (4,037 km)
Public holidays:	December 31- January 1 - New Year 3 days in January/February - Mongolian New Year (Tsagaan Sar), June 1 - Mother and Child day, July 11-13 - National Holiday (Naadam)
Time:	Add 8 hours to Greenwich Mean Time
Normal working hours:	09.00-13.00 and 14.00-18.00
Electric current:	220 volts/50 HZ
Weight and measures:	Metric System
Visa arrangements:	Visa shall be issued by Mongolia Embassies and Diplomatic Missions as well as Honorary consuls of Mongolia , or can be obtained at the airport at a cost of US$53 but must be accompanied by an invitation.