Why 99.7% of Mongolia is Completely Empty

Select video clips courtesy of Getty Images

Select video clips courtesy of the AP Archive

Special thanks to MapTiler / OpenStreetMap Contributors and GEOlayers

[chimedtserenganbaatar]

I am Mongolian, and I would like to thank you for talking about my country. Most of the world still does not know about us and what we have sacrificed for our independence and existence.

[me]

"Mongolia is huge"

Not as huge as it used to be...

[manic_hearts]

I have a student, the sweetest little boy, he's from Mongolia. I know a bit for an American (not a lot for the more worldly individuals) about Mongolia. I asked him one day where his family was from, and he told me. His eyes light up when I told him what I knew about Mongolia. He was shy and quiet until that day. It was like I helped open his shell. He taught me some Mongolian, and whenever he sees me, he just lights up. It surprised me how little people know about Mongolia. It has an amazing history and culture. By far, my favorite Asian country to learn about.

[cupit]

My grandfather is Mongolian born. His family lived in the northwest, pretty much on the border with present day Russia. They lived in a small village by a lake, like many did outside the capital. They moved to the USSR before my grandfather was old enough to even speak the language fully.

[Kronosfobi]

Fun fact: During USSR's entire existence, Mongolia has been the only country that has repeatedly applied for membership (aka annexation by USSR) willingly AND get denied.

[HippiePajon]

I really appreciate how, when someone mentions Mongolia online, many Mongolians come to the comments and show a great courtesy and education, thanking the journalist or creator for talking about their nation.

:)

[bruisernight]

I was fortunate enough to live and work in Mongolia pre-covid. My work has taken my wife and me to many wonderful places, but I can say without any doubt, our time in UB and Mongolia was the best ever. The people are (in random order) the friendliest, the most passionate and parochial, the biggest drinkers I have ever seen (both women and men) the fiercest fighters (usually over nothing) but most importantly; they are the hardest working and most dedicated people on the planet. I had a team of people that I was proud to lead, and even now keep in regular contact with. In fact, I have a Mongolian working with me in Argentina now and as always, her work makes me look good. It’s no wonder they went very close to conquering most of Asia and Europe!

[kazookiddo]

When I was a child, I used to climb the small mountain close to our herding camp almost every day. From there the area around the mountain looks beautiful. The limitless blue sky, bright sun and seemingly limitless steppe still in my memories. We even talk that "There are no sky bluer than Mongolia's". Thank you for this awesome and very detailed video about our nation.

[Shxxib]

Fun fact:This video has more views than the population of Mongolia

[dialupconnection_]

I had a girlfriend from Bangladesh that had a Mongolian friend and roommate. She made us a traditional Mongolian dish with Mongolian beef vacuum sealed and sent to her, still one of the most delicious meals I’ve ever had. She also gave me some Mongolian currency, it had Genghis Khan on it.

[sciopathic]

I'm from Russia and I always dreamed of visiting Mongolia one day. I'm a big fan of Tibetian Buddhism and I find nomadic lifestyle so fascinating. Thank you for the video.

[tobyzilla.]

I bet Mongolia is a wild anmials haven as well because there is still so much room for wildlife to thrive

[osheridan]

"Mongolia is just a city state surrounded by a lot of empty area cosplaying as a huge country"
Historians in the future shall puzzle over this quote

[visionofwellboyofficial]

As a Mongolian, I know why most of the nomadic population live in the capital city, Ulan Baatar. Unfortunately, this situation is worsening day by day. Due to lack of sewage system and capacity limitations of the CWWTP, people living in suburban parts of the city were forced to use the wooden toilet (also known as a pit latrine or outhouse). This led to not only increases in soil, water and air pollutions, but also infections like cholera. Most of the suburbs don't have running water, only water kiosks (khudag). Further exacerbating problems.

[panorama]

I am from Mongolia & all the information given here is authentic. Thanks for this informative video.❤❤
Watching

[vkrprpi]

I am an Mongolian and thank you for talking about my country

[asiauncovered]

Having a third of your population be Buddhist monks is crazy, to think that the Tibetan clergy had that much influence over the country is insane. Great video as always.

[isobarkley]

as a meteorologist, i genuinely appreciate the effort you went into to explaining the climate of mongolia. you did an excellent job of simplifying a very complicated discussion into digestible information for non-mets :)

[sangitaekka]

How fascinating!! Mongolia had always intrigued me because there's so less information on it. What a wonderful video!

[joveybear]

There are two other larger urban areas (Erdenet and Darkhan), but they are also in the central north area of Mongolia, quite close to Ulaanbaatar.