On the road travel photography

Mongolian Life

October 10, 2013

All manner of animals make up the travelling circus that is the life of the Mongolian nomad.. Animals and humans alike have adapted to the extreme life of harsh deserts, exposed plains with few water sources, and severe weather. 

The nomad's trusty dog, helps protect his precious livestock.

Yaks seem to be unconcerned by the first snow of winter.

Goats moving into camp for refuge overnight.

Bactrian camels grazing on the outskirts of the Gobi Desert.

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Huge thick-furred Mongolian dogs can withstand the worst of the cold weather that the country's harsh climate throws at them. 

The two-humped Bactrian camel is  still used by nomads to move their belonging from camp to camp around the desert regions. 

The nomads are extremely frugal and efficient in making the most out of the limited resources at their disposal.

The nomads use their cows, goats, sheep and horses to make milk, cheese, cream, butter, and an alcoholic beverage called kumus and when their milk producing days are over they become staples of the local cuisine. Bones are used as tools, instruments and even as counters in games

The Mongolian horse is said to be largely unchanged since the time of Genghis Khan. Short and stocky, with an impenetrably thick coat the horses live outdoors in temperatures that range from +30 degrees in the summer to -40 in the winter.