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 4630 km, Russia 3452 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 ]
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% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 0.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 72.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 20% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use 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 burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws leads to air pollution in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation and overgrazing increase soil erosion from wind and rain; water pollution; desertification and mining activities have 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