Discover the beauty of Mongolia through 10 stunning photos, showcasing its vast landscapes, rugged mountains, and unique natural wonders.

Mongolia has always captivated me with its breathtaking landscapes. Earlier this year, I finally visited this amazing country and checked it off my bucket list! It was a monumental experience, and it won’t be my last.

Mongolia’s harsh climate and relatively low human activity (with fewer tourists than average) have left many parts of the country untouched. This makes it a rare sight in an age of the internet and global access to the world.

The experience reminded me of how beautiful our Earth is—untouched and natural. Living in a city like Dallas, I’m surrounded by the hustle and bustle, with something man-made always in sight. While many enjoy city life for countless reasons, experiencing nature on this grand scale is essential. It is my goal to never lose sight of such beauty—we must learn about it, respect it, and preserve it.

In this post, I’ll explore five major landscape types in Mongolia. Each is stunning in its own way, and I can’t wait to visit them all.

Regions and Landforms of Mongolia

Mountain Forest

It is unbelievable to think that Mongolia’s forests coverage is relatively low, only covering about 8% of the landscape. The majority of these forests are in the mountainous regions of the north, near the border of Russia. Mongolia’s mountain forest landscape is characterized by a variety of forest types such as the infamous taiga forests, located in regions just south of the arctic circle and have long, cold, snowy winters.

Taiga Forests

Taiga forests Found in the northern part of the country, these forests are part of the world’s largest boreal forest biome. They are dominated by coniferous trees like Siberian pine, Siberian larch, and fir, and also include birch and aspen. These forests are vital for biodiversity and help regulate the local climate.

Coniferous forests The lower elevations of the Khentii Mountains are covered by dense forests of coniferous trees, including Siberian pine, Siberian larch, and spruce.
Alpine meadows Located at higher elevations, these meadows provide grazing grounds for wildlife and livestock during the summer.
Mountain ranges Mongolia has several mountain ranges, including the Altai Mountains, Khangai Mountains, and Gobi Altai Mountains:
- Altai Mountains: Located in the west, these mountains are known for their snow-capped peaks and alpine scenery.
- Khangai Mountains: Located in the north, these mountains are known for their green valleys and lakes. They are also an important cultural and historical site.
- Gobi Altai Mountains: Located in the south, these mountains are known for their rock formations and cliffs. They are also home to rare and endangered species

What would be some things you’d see in the mountain forests?

Dense forests The northern regions of Mongolia are covered by dense forests of pine and larch, known as “taiga” in Russian. These forests are home to a diverse array of wildlife, including elk, moose, deer, bears, wolves, and many types of birds.
River valleys and gorges The mountains are crisscrossed by numerous rivers and streams, which have carved deep valleys and gorges into the landscape.
Alpine meadows At higher elevations, alpine meadows dot the mountainsides, providing important grazing grounds for wildlife and livestock during the summer months.
Khangai Mountains conifer forests The climate of the Khangai Mountains is cold semi-arid, with at least one month averaging below 0 °C (32 °F).
Selenge-Orkhon Forest Steppe This ecoregion covers the basins of the Tesiin Gol River, the Selenge River, and the Orkhon River

Lakes and Rivers

Mongolia has diverse waterbodies that include lakes and rivers that are freshwater, but also include saline water bodies such as Uvs Lake, Khyargas Lake and a chain of lakes in the Gobi Desert that include Taatsiin Tsagaan Lake, Böön Tsagaan Lake, Orog Lake, and Adgiin Tsagaan Lake. In general, Mongolian saline lakes are shallow and saucer-shaped, and their water levels fluctuate seasonally and from year to year. Some lakes may dry out completely in certain years.

What would be some things you’d see in the lakes and rivers?

Rivers Mongolia’s rivers are either swift and steep or slow and meandering. The longest rivers include the Orkhon, Kherlen, Tuul, Zavkhan, Selenge, Hovd, and Eg rivers. Rivers in the north flow into the Arctic Ocean, while those in the northeast flow into the Pacific.
Lakes Mongolia has many lakes, including freshwater lakes, saline lakes, and lakes that are impermanent. The largest lake by area is Lake Uvs, and the largest lake by volume is Lake Khövsgöl. Lake Khövsgöl is the deepest lake in Mongolia and is located in a structural depression. Other large lakes include Lake Khar Us, which drains into Lake Khyargas, and Lake Hoh, which is the lowest point in the country.
Great Lakes Depression This basin in central Mongolia contains six major lakes and is home to a variety of ecosystems, including semi-desert, forests, grasslands, and mountains.

Alpine Steppe

The alpine steppe experiences a harsh climate, characterized by extremely cold, long winters and brief, mild summers. The average temperature remains low throughout the year, creating a challenging environment for plant and animal life. Annual precipitation is minimal, with the majority of rainfall occurring in the warmer months, between May and September.

What would be some things you’d see in the Alphine steppe?

Grasslands The Mongolian steppe is known for its vast, endless grasslands that stretch across the landscape. The grasses are golden in color and can extend as far as the eye can see.
Rolling hills Gentle rolling hills add texture to the landscape, creating a rhythm and providing vantage points for sweeping views.
Sparse vegetation While the steppe is covered in grasses, vegetation can be sparse, especially in more arid regions. Drought-resistant plants like sagebrush and wildflowers add splashes of color.
Extinct volcanoes The eastern part of Mongolia has small, stubby massifs that contain the cones of extinct volcanoes.
Oases The southern part of Mongolia is a vast plain with occasional oases.
Petroglyphs Some say the steppes of Mongolia are stunning and empty of almost anything but the natural world.

Semi-desert

Mongolia’s semi-desert landscape spans the Great Lakes intermontane depression in the west and stretches across the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert in the south. This region is defined by its arid conditions, marked by harsh temperatures and minimal rainfall. The terrain is a unique blend of rocky plateaus, sand dunes, and dry riverbeds, offering a striking contrast to the greener landscapes found in other parts of Mongolia. The semi-desert serves as a transition zone between the harsher desert areas and the more temperate regions of the country.

What would be some things you’d see in the semi-desert?

Sparse vegetation The semi-desert has little vegetation, but enough to sustain camels, goats, and sheep.
Saxaul This drought-tolerant plant provides firewood.
Elms and poplars These trees grow in groves around springs and other underground water sources.
Green belts Trees have been planted in areas threatened by desertification.
Dust storms These are common in areas where human activity has broken up the steppes.
Basin and range terrain The Alashan Plateau semi-desert has a basin and range terrain with elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 meters.
Cold and arid climate The Alashan Plateau semi-desert has an average annual temperature of 6.7ºC and an average annual precipitation of 95 mm.
Badain Jaran desert This desert is located at the base of the Alashan Plateau semi-desert and contains the world’s highest dune.

Desert

The Gobi Desert is about 30% of the total territory and it’s home to many rare, endangered, and endemic species, and is a critical habitat for large animal migrations. It’s also the world’s largest dinosaur graveyard, with over 80 genera of dinosaurs discovered there. The Gobi Desert is experiencing dramatic climate change, with temperatures rising more than 2 degrees Celsius (a little under 36 degrees Fahrenheit) in some places in just 65 years.

What would be some things you’d see in the desert?

Rivers and Lakes The Gobi is home to winding rivers and scattered lakes, offering a surprising contrast to its arid landscape.
Sand Dunes Towering sand dunes, some reaching over 200 meters, define the Gobi’s vast expanse. Constantly reshaped by wind erosion, they create a dynamic and ever-changing desert scene.
Rocky Mountains and Hills Rugged mountains and hills cut through the Gobi, providing shelter for unique desert plants and animals specially adapted to survive in extreme conditions.
Salt Flats Stark, blinding white salt flats stretch across parts of the Gobi, devoid of vegetation and shimmering under the harsh desert sun.
Gravel Plains Expansive gravel plains, scattered with small rocks and pebbles, create a rugged, barren terrain that defines much of the Gobi’s surface.
Mud Cliffs Eroded mud cliffs hold ancient dinosaur fossils, offering a glimpse into the Gobi’s prehistoric past.
Oases Hidden oases spring to life in the desert, offering vital water and life in the midst of the arid expanse.

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