Mongolia - Background: Definition Field Listing The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and later came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A Communist regime was installed in 1924. The ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. Since then, parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000 and produced a coalition government in 2004. Geography Mongolia Top of Page Location: Definition Field Listing Northern Asia, between China and Russia Geographic coordinates: Definition Field Listing 46 00 N, 105 00 E Map references: Definition Field Listing Asia Area: Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 1,564,116 sq km Area - comparative: Definition Field Listing slightly smaller than Alaska Land boundaries: Definition Field Listing total: 8,220 km border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km Coastline: Definition Field Listing 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: Definition Field Listing none (landlocked) Climate: Definition Field Listing desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges) Terrain: Definition Field Listing vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central Elevation extremes: Definition Field Listing lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m Natural resources: Definition Field Listing oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron Land use: Definition Field Listing arable land: 0.76% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.24% (2005) Irrigated land: Definition Field Listing 840 sq km (2003) Natural hazards: Definition Field Listing dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and 'zud,' which is harsh winter conditions Environment - current issues: Definition Field Listing limited natural fresh water 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: Definition Field Listing 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: Definition Field Listing landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia