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The name 'Mongolia' has
always stirred up visions of the untamed and exotic - the warlord
Genghis Khan, camels wandering in the Gobi Desert and wild horses
galloping across the steppes. Even today, Mongolia seems like the end
of the earth - outside Ulaan Baatar you begin to wonder if you haven't
stepped into another century, rather than another country. It remains
one of the last great adventure destinations in Asia.
Mongolia's survival as an independent nation is little short of
miraculous, sandwiched as it is between the godzilla states of Russia
and China. The country now has a ruling democratic coalition but
independence has cost them dearly. Currently they are suffering from a
lack of infrastructure and support, and a couple of harsh winters have
decimated herds and bought the country to near starvation.
Area: 1,566,000 sq km (610,740 sq mi)
Population: 2.6 million
People: Khalkh Mongols (86%), Kazaks (2%), Chinese (2%),
Russian (2%), about a dozen other ethnic groups
Languages: Mongolian, Turkic, Russian, Chinese
Religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Muslim, Shamanism
Government: Communist-Republic
President: Natsagiyn Bagabandi
Prime Minister: Nambaryn Enkhbayar
GDP: US$1 billion
GDP per head: US$390
Annual growth: 3.5%
Inflation: 44%
Major industries: Copper, livestock, cashmere, wool
Major trading partners: Russia, China, Japan, US, |
Malaysia Introduction
Information provided by
the
Ministry of Tourism. Government of Mongolia.
