Mongolia

Mongolia is a big country in East Asia. It is surrounded by Russia to the north and China to the south. Mongolia is the 18th-largest country in the world and the second largest landlocked country after Kazakhstan.

The land in Mongolia is very different. In the south, there is the dry and grassy Gobi Desert. The north and west have cold, mountainous areas. Much of the country is grassland, with some forests. The highest point is Khüiten Peak, which is 4,374 meters (14,350 feet) tall. One special lake is Uvs Lake, shared with the Tuva Republic in Russia.

People in Mongolia love horses. Many families still live a nomadic or semi-nomadic life, moving with their animals. Horse culture is very important. The biggest festival is Naadam, held each summer. It includes three traditional games: archery, horse racing, and wrestling.

Mongolia has a dry and sunny climate, often called the "Land of the Eternal Blue Sky." Summers can be hot, while winters are extremely cold, with temperatures sometimes dropping below −30 °C (−22 °F). The country has long, cold winters and short summers. Most rain falls during the summer months.

The capital city is Ulaanbaatar, the largest city. About half of Mongolia’s people live there. Traditional Mongolian homes are called gers. These round tents are made from wood and felt and can be moved easily. They are still used today by many families.

Mongolia’s music comes from nature and ancient beliefs. Traditional music uses instruments like the morin khuur and styles such as throat-singing khoomei. Dances like tsam were performed to keep away bad spirits. Today, Mongolia has many newspapers, TV stations, and radio stations.