Mountain Ranges of Mongolia

This post is part of the Mongolia Week series of posts for February 22-28.

While MONGOLIA is known for its Gobi (Govĭ) Desert, lots of mountain ranges also straddle across the sparsely-populated northeast Asian country. Mongolia's longest mountain range, the Altai (Altay) mountains in western Mongolia stretch from the intersection of four countries (Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia) then eastward through three somewhat large Mongolian provinces: Bayan-Ölgiy, Hovd, and Govĭ-Altay. Nayramadlin Orgil in the Altai mountains is Mongolia's tallest peak. It stands tall at about 14,350 feet or 4,374 meters at the tip of western Mongolia. Govĭ Altayn Nuruu is the Altai mountain range's eastern extension, dipping down towards Mongolia's southern border. From west to east, it crosses over Bayanhongor, Övörhangay, and Ömnogovi provinces before reaching China's northern border.

North-central Mongolia features several mountain ranges, including Bulnayn Nuruu, Bürengiyn Nuruu, and Tarvagatyn Nuruu. Further south of those three ranges is Hargayn Nuruu, a longer and more prominent mountain range crossing through Dzavhan, northern Bayanhongor, Arhangay, and northern Övörhangay provinces from west to east. Hentiyn Nuruu mountain range stretches along the border between Töv and Hentiy provinces. It is east of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. Finally, Ereen Davaani Nuruu is located further east, stretching across eastern Hentiy and northwestern Dornod near Russia's southern border.