Page 3 - 몽골 어류도감 편집본

Freshwater Organisms in Pixels Fish of the Amur River Introduction

Fig 2. Vegetation zones and vertical belts in Mongolia.
Introduction

Geographic and climatic characteristics occupies the central and west-central parts,
of Mongolia whilst the third mountain system, Khentii (also
Located in the northeastern part of known as Hentii or Khentey) mountain range
Central Asia, Mongolia is a landlocked country is in the east-central and north-eastern regions
bordered with Russia to the north and China to of the country. There are several other large
the south; it stretches for 2,392 km from west mountains, such as mountains surrounding the
to east and 1,259 km from north to south, with Lake Hövsgöl (Khubsugul, Huvsgul or Hovsgol)
total territory of 1,564,116 km2 (Murzaev 1952). in the northwest, and Great Khyangan (Hyangan
In topographic character, Mongolia or Hinggan) mountains in the most eastern end
is a highly elevated plateau averaging 1,580 of the country (Fig. 1). Thus, the northwestern,
m above sea level, upon which three major northcentral and northeastern parts of the
mountain systems are superimposed. The country have high mountain ranges, whilst the
first, Altai mountain system occupies western southern regions are occupied by Gobi deserts
and southwestern parts of the country, and vast steppes (Yembuu 2021).
consisting of two main parts, as Mongol- Apart from the high altitude, due to
Altai mountain range and Gobi-Altai mountain the fact that the country is located in inland
range. The former lies in western edge of and narrow transitional zone between the and rather mild autumns. It has relatively high Asian desert, geological and topographical
the country, and it gradually fading as it runs Siberian Taiga and the Central Asian Desert, the temperature fluctuations in both daily and features, and climatic conditions, the
southeastwards into a series of isolated fault climate of the country is continental, extremely seasonally; the average annual temperatures distribution of vegetation cover is very unique.
blocks called the Gobi-Altai Mountains. The harsh and arid, with four distinctive seasons are -7.8°C in the mountainous areas and +8.5°C From north to south, a cold and humid climate
second orographic system, Khangai (also characterized by long and cold winters, short in the Gobi. From the extreme maximum gradually shifts to a warm and dry climate,
called as Hangai or Khangay) mountain range and hot summers, and dry and windy springs, temperature is +28.5°C (to +44.0°C) in and this results in the gradual replacement
July drops away to the extreme minimum of vegetation in plains and from the foot of
temperature is -31.1°C to (-55.3°C) in January mountains to their peaks, thereby forming
Fig 1. General view of the relief and elevation of Mongolia.
(Natsagdorj & Dagvadorj 2010). belts (Fig 2). The distribution of vegetation
The country is isolated from the sea at corresponds mostly to the distribution of
minimum 1600 km distance from the Pacific precipitation and temperature. The vast
Ocean, and even greater from other seas, territory of Mongolia with the high mountain
consequently, the precipitation is low, ranging ranges, depressions, forest-steppes, Gobi
from 80 to 400 mm per annum, with most of Desert, and extreme continental climate and
the rain falling between June and September. its factor influences to the vegetation cover
The annual precipitation amount is averaging (Yunatov 1950).
210 mm, the rainfall decreases steadily from Studies on the flora and fauna of the
north to south, where Gobi Desert and semi- country, together with climatic and geographic
desert receive mostly less than 120 mm of data have resulted in the classification of
annual precipitation (Barthel 1983; Beresneva Mongolia into six main natural zones and
1977; Integrated Water Management Plan of vertical belts (high mountain alpine, taiga-
Mongolia 2013). forest, forest-steppe, steppe, desert-steppe
and desert), and based upon vegetation,
Biogeographic characteristics of floral composition, topographic and climatic
Mongolia characteristics, Mongolia divides into 16
Due to Mongolia’s geographic situation phytogeographical subregions (Yunatov,
between the Siberian taiga and the Central 1948, 1950; Ulziikhutag, 1989). Two of these

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