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Since the Soviet withdrawal from Mongolia, most Mongolians have returned to a nomadic lifestyle. Living in gers or yurts, as they are also known, the people live off the meat and milk produced by their animals. The capital city, Ulaan Bator, is a bustling centre of commerce located on the Trans-Mongolian Railway, running from Moscow to Beijing. |
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With taiga forests in the north, steppe grasslands in
the centre and the Gobi desert in the south, the Mongolian landscape
is as diverse as it is beautiful. But the all-encompassing blue sky,
and ghostly absence of human intervention, remains a common theme.
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Naadam, the Festival of the Three Manly Sports, takes place in towns across the country every June. The festival is promoted as a proud showcase of modern Mongolian statehood, although it began as a celebration of the 1921 Communist revolution and the ensuing close ties with the Soviet Union. Townsfolk and local nomads compete in wrestling, archery and horseracing events, but like all major sporting tournaments, drinking and partying take centre-stage. |
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Although the forces of Stalinism successfully destroyed much of Mongolia's heritage, however many fascinating sites including Buddhist monasteries miraculously survived the purges. For those interested in remnants of the Soviet Empire, Mongolia offers unrivalled opportunities to visit deserted Red Army bases and monuments to Communist heroes. |
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