Location:
Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 1,564,116 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 1,553,556 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 10,560 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 20

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas
Area comparison map: slightly smaller than Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 8,082 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (2): China 4,630 km, Russia 3,452 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
More Climate Details

Terrain:
vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

Elevation:
mean elevation: 1,528 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Hoh Nuur 560 m highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Khuiten Peak) 4,374 m

Natural resources:
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron

Land use:
agricultural land: 73% arable land 0.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 72.6%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 7%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 20% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
840 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
sparsely distributed population throughout the country; the capital of Ulaanbaatar and the northern city of Darhan support the highest population densities

Natural hazards:
dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions

Environment - current issues:
limited natural freshwater resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia