Before moving to Mongolia, I was most afraid of how cold it would get. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Mongolia is an astonishing -72.4°F. I worried about which winter jacket to buy and how many pairs of socks I should pack. However, since arriving, I’ve been amazed at how manageable the cold feels, thanks to Mongolians' innovative ways to stay warm. For example, warm air blasts through shop doorways, people wear clothing made from cashmere and yak fibers (materials that can be up to eight times warmer than wool) and hot drinks are a constant part of daily life. These strategies have been shaped over thousands of years and are deeply tied to Mongolia’s culture, reflecting how people have learned to adapt to their environment.
Mongolia’s geography and climate are closely connected, and together they shape how people live. Mongolia has very cold winters because it is the second-largest landlocked country in the world, meaning it is far from the ocean. Oceans help keep places warmer in winter and cooler in summer, but Mongolia does not have this benefit. Much of the country is also at a high altitude, where thinner air cannot hold heat well. Because of these factors, Mongolia has an average temperature of about –13°F, making it one of the coldest countries on Earth.
