Mongolia and Its Nomadic Tradition
Mongolia is one of the least populated countries in the world with only two people per square kilometer. The country is divided into 21 districts, or aimaks, in which there are 329 soums, or villages.
Nomads continue the centuries-old tradition of living in yurts, which can be easily transported. For three thousand years, the structure of the Mongolian yurt has hardly changed. It consists of a wooden frame covered with felt on top. The only modern adaptation is using a tarpaulin, which protects the yurt from the rain. The structure, weighing 250 kilograms, can be disassembled and assembled again in a couple of hours.
Unlike their ancient ancestors, modern pastoralists roam the steppe in cars instead of on horses. The yurt and belongings are put into a truck, which slowly follows the herd. As a rule, the herd is driven by several people on horses or motorcycles, guiding the animals and preventing them from wandering off into the valleys. The distance between camps can be up to a couple of hundred kilometers.
In 2023, Mongolia received 650,000 tourists, and the tourism industry revenues amounted to USD 1.2 billion. It is believed that guests bring good luck and prosperity to the house. Therefore, the more guests who visit the yurt, the better.
To roam is the sacred right of every Mongol. The Constitution of Mongolia provides citizens with the right to live anywhere. One does not need land ownership to put a yurt on it. Some Mongols go nomad after retirement. The Mongols say that this is why freedom is in their blood.
Vocabulary:
populated – having people living in a certain area or country, “The crowded city center is heavily populated with commuters and tourists.”
districts – specific areas or regions of a country, state, or city divided for administrative or official purposes, “The city is split into six school districts, each with its own high school.”
centuries-old – having existed for hundreds of years, “The family still practices the centuries-old tradition of making handmade pottery.”
transported – moved or carried from one place to another using a vehicle or system, “The heavy boxes were safely transported across the country by train.”
adaptation – a small change or modification made to something to make it suitable for a new purpose or situation, “Using solar panels on the roof was a smart modern adaptation to the old house.”
disassembled – taken apart into separate pieces, “The wooden table can be easily disassembled for moving day.”
pastoralists – sheep or cattle farmers who move their herds around large areas of land to find fresh grass, “The pastoralists carefully watched their sheep as they grazed near the river.”
steppe – a large, flat area of land with grass but very few trees, usually found in eastern Europe or Asia, “Wild horses ran across the vast, open steppe of Central Asia.”
belongings – the things that a person owns; personal possessions, “Make sure to take all your personal belongings with you when you leave the plane.”
wandering off – (phrasal verb) moving away from a central path, group, or expected place without a clear direction, “The young puppy kept wandering off into the neighbors’ garden.”
revenues – the total amount of money received by a company or government over a period of time, “The technology company reported a massive increase in its annual revenues.”
amounted to – (phrasal verb) reached a total or specific amount when added together, “The cost of the car repairs amounted to over five hundred dollars.”
prosperity – the state of being successful, wealthy, healthy, and thriving, “The business owners wished their hard-working employees a year of peace and prosperity.”
sacred – highly respected, holy, or treated with great reverence and protection, “The ancient temple is considered a sacred place by the local community.”
ownership – the legal right to possess, use, and control something, “He finally gained full ownership of the family business after working there for twenty years.”