Presentation
Mongolia is located between China and Russia. Its capital is Ulaanbaatar. The official language of the parliamentary republic is the currency and the Mongolian Tugrik.
Its area is three times that of France and has 2.8 million inhabitants. Mongolia has the lowest density and the world: 1.7 people per km2.
More than half of the population lives in the capital and its periphery. The other half is nomadic.
We find the Gobi Desert in the south, the steppes in the center and the forested mountains to the north (Altai). The climate is harsh in winter to -50 °, and hot in summer with more than 40 °. Mongolia knows so many climatic conditions (continental climate): cold, heat, wind, snow, rain. The yurt is thus constructed to meet all these conditions. Imagine and strength!
History
Until the late 12th century, Mongolia remains a large province of China.
In the 13th century, it stands out as the most dominant empire in the world. Genghis Khan is to lead the greatest achievements, bringing the Mongolian troops, allowing them to advance to the borders of present-day Turkey. This creates the Mongol Empire. The wars with China are regular and persistent.
The representation of Genghis Khan is still very present in the country (statues, paintings ...). Admit that the Mongolian conqueror won in bloody, but it remains for them the symbol of force and conquest which they are very proud.
After Genghis Khan, the empire loses its scope and China regained power in the region of Mongolia. She created two autonomous regions of China: Inner Mongolia (China still today) and Outer Mongolia (now independent countries).
In 1911, Mongolia declared independence, taking advantage of the revolt in China.
It will be recognized by China in 1949.
The Soviet Union maintains a presence and a strong influence on Mongolia. The Buddhist religion is fought, the Mongolian alphabet is replaced by the Cyrillic alphabet ... .
In 1989 with the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union that Russian rule ends and makes it completely independent Mongolia.
Mongolia today
Life in Mongolia is still tough for a large proportion of the population. Poverty is very present and the harsh life in the countryside forcing some nomads to reach the capital and moved to its periphery. Ulaanbaatar is now surrounded by a very large suburb consists mainly of sedentary yurts. This is also very impressive to look at the capital from the surrounding hills, you will see the center concrete and a set of giant yurts and fences that are intertwined. Unemployment is widespread. Pollution as well.
The few nomads who still remain in the country are threatened by the steady loss of their herds because of the severe cold winter. The last cold of 2010, called Dzud, killed nearly 6 million animals, forcing some shepherds to abandon everything.
In parallel with this poverty, the growth of Mongolia is experiencing a meteoric rise since 2010 (+7%). Major gold mines and copper have recently been discovered and investors argue their operations. Wages begin to rise and many large international companies are located in the heart of Ulaanbaatar.
Religion
The religion of the country is Tibetan Buddhism. Animism is the belief most common in Mongolia. It is the lending to the elements (objects, plants, animals ...) a soul that man must follow. Shamanism, which derives from this belief, involves the action to come into contact with these souls and interact. The shaman is responsible for this link between the elements and men.
Religious ceremonies are very active in the lives of Mongolian and very protected. As a guest you will very rarely invited to share these rituals taking place in a yurt or in the many temples in the country.
On a daily basis it is not surprising to see the mother to bless the place of the yurt, the departure of a man for a long route, or acquisition of a horse, for an offering to the spirits characterized by the sending a few drops of milk with the ring.
The « Ovoo », pile of stones adorned with strips of colored tissue found around the edge of the slopes of Mongolia, symbolize places of worship are prohibited to avoid. If you have time you will make as Mongols three times around the pile of stones in the direction of clockwise. And if you are driving, and that time does not allow you to stop, our driver will always have the habit of honking at the sight of a Ovoo to still have a thought for the mind.
Culture
Mongolian culture is very rich. A few items stand out particularly.
Music and song : music is a very important element in the everyday life of Mongols. Overtone singing, Khöömi, exerts a certain fascination because it allows the singer to produce two different simultaneous sound, resonance and nasal vocal cords superimposed effects. The singers are inspired by the sounds of nature.
Many traditional musical instruments is also present: the most symbolic is the «Moriin-Khuur», the horse-fiddle. His name is that it mimics the gait of the horse. Two horsehair strings and a case of reasonable woods.
Sport : the national sport is wrestling. Major championships are held throughout the country, but you can also find this practice in the daily games of children who do not hesitate, in the right mood to roll over. Mongolian wrestling is characterized by the absence of weight class. The goal is to force the opponent to place the knee, back or posterior to the ground using traditional movements.
Horse racing and archery are also practiced, mainly during the annual festival of Naadam.
The national holiday Naadam : this festival celebrates the independence of Mongolia. It takes place each July 11 and 12 of the year. The three major sports are represented Mongolian wrestling, archery and horse racing.
Horse racing are very specific. Including children who reveals the resourcefulness of the young. They ride horses bareback (bareback) and route several miles at a gallop through the countryside. Children can already be pre-teens, but some may have only a few years. It is an honor for all families to be represented by their children during this race. And even greater honor to win it.
