Pictures from Mongolia

[Rinchinlhumbe]

the most interesting rock formation might be Bagar Gazrin Chuluu which is shown in the following pictures




(flickr)


(geu.de)

[Rinchinlhumbe]

Moon or Mongolia?


Typical vista on the edge of the Gobi

(flickr)
Travelling is a real adventure in this part of the world

[Rinchinlhumbe]

On it goes. The next aimag is Gobi Altai aimag in the sowuth west of the country. With 143.000 sqkm it has roughly the same size as Iowa/Illionois or Greece and is the entire country's second biggest.



Would you believe it or not? Just 60.000 people live in this vast territory and if you come there, it is easy to know why mankind does not want to live there.
Harsh and icy winds blow across the bleak desert plains during most time of the year.


(panoramio)


There is a certain beauty in this hostile environment though. The Altai mountain range bisects the aimag to a Northern and Southern part.


(doncroner.com)

[Rinchinlhumbe]

The southern stretch of the aimag is completely empty - no streets, no building no people, no plants and of course no rain


(doncroner.com)

It is a "strictly protected area", which even intrepid travellers do not enter.



When you travel eastwards, the Altai range slowly looses height, as the landscape gets more rocky and drier. Trees barely survive in this environment, and some mountains seem to be sinking in the debris surrounding


(ac.le.uk)

[Rinchinlhumbe]

You'll be lucky to spot any human being...


Camels and other animals dominate the scenery




Gobi Altai aimag is also home to the Gobi Bear, the only brown bear which manages to survive outside the woods. Meanwhile threatened with exstinction, only about 50 bears survive.

[Rinchinlhumbe]

Roads...





Stopover near a lake at 2600 meters.

(all panoramio)

[Rinchinlhumbe]

Huh? What's that?



Some buildings. Altai City is the aimag's capital, it's population is about 14.000, but the nightlife is not as vibrant as in New York City.

But it has a nice temple.



Nearby, the newly erected Taishir reservoir supplies energy to the whole Western Mongolian territory. Before, the region relied on Russiasn imports. But if these could not supply or the Mongolians couldn't pay the Western part of the country remained dark.


(all panoramio)

[Rinchinlhumbe]

Some mountain scenery



Salt Lake



3000 meter plain with some glaciated mountains on the horizon.


(panoramio)

[Rinchinlhumbe]

Altai mountains


Approaching the pass from the valley


Reaching the summit

(panoramio)

[Shezan]

no many trees around

[Rinchinlhumbe]

not even one on the whole page. But if you look on the previous pages, there is a lot

[Shezan]

BTW I like it

[Denicka]

Incredible country! Breathtaking landscapes and beautifull people! I have some mongolian blood in my venes and I always wanted to see Mongolia, travel there... Live a life of a nooker )

I just can't believe what those chineese and soviet vandals did to Kharakorum - the glorious capital of Chingiz Khan, who rulled the great empire of the past...
His grandson Batu Khan reached the shores of the mediterranean sea, he took over Kiev in 1240. Not so many people know much about mongolia in a modern world, unfortunately!

[the spliff fairy]

an amazingly beautiful country

[FLAWDA-FELLA]

A beautiful country indeed.

[Rinchinlhumbe]

4000 views

[Skycrap]

I knew Mongolia was beautiful, but after seeing this pictures, i'm just overwhelmed! I really like to go there someday!

[vycanismajoris]

Rinchinlhumbe, you are doing really great job! Keep on posting.
May i ask for a translation of what is written on the boards in this picture:

Originally Posted by Rinchinlhumbe

Originally Posted by Denicka

Not so many people know much about mongolia in a modern world, unfortunately!

True.

[Rinchinlhumbe]

Originally Posted by vycanismajoris

Rinchinlhumbe, you are doing really great job! Keep on posting.
May i ask for a translation of what is written on the boards in this picture:

Of course you may ask, the only problem is: I cannot answer. I can read some cyrillic but I only know little Mongolian. First red-lettered roughly says something like "Tavkhan reservoir supplies energy to all of you". The 2nd? No clue about that.

Originally Posted by vycanismajoris

True.

Very true. In western people's minds reduced to a romantic, but stifling poor and backward nomad's nation. Maybe that's because of a settled peoples' primal fear against the destruction, the barbaric wild hordes of Genghis Khan caused.

[Rinchinlhumbe]

but okay, from some history lessons back to topic.

It's a shame that Zavkhan province wasn't mentioned so far, because for travellers it is surely one of Mongolia's highlights

With an area of 82.000 km its expanse can be compared to Austria.
Although´diverse in culture, people and scenery it is one of the least visited aimags. Reason for this it its difficult accessibility. To get here involves some effort, namely a tough 2-3 days bus ride over high mountain passes and bumpy roads.

(zavkhan.com)

The ones who come here are rewarded with spectacular - and fastly changing scenery. You may be travelling through a lush mountaineous landscape with taiga forests and half an hour later you find yourself in a barren "Lawrence-of-Arabia" like desert.


(panoramio)