Mongolia consists of three distinct geographic zones. The first is in the south, the desert and semi desert rangelnds of the gobi area. Only around 2 % of the gobi is Sahara style pure sand-dunes, most of the gobi is flat with interspersed scrub over gravel or a thin topsoil. Wells are important in the gobi, and in recent years some have fallen into disrepair, making the region even less populated. The mountanous regions of this zone are home to the snow-leopard.

The next geographic zone is that of the plains belt, which consists of rolling hills and plains interspersed with occasional trees. This region is greener than the gobi and is the classic 'steppe' region and home to the majority of the remaining mongolian nomads. Mongolians rivers are few and are thus important geographic features in this zone as well as the forest zone. many wolves are to be found in this zone as they attck the herder's livestock.

 The forst zone is the third zone and stretches along Mongolia's northern borders and is essentially the beginnings of the great northern forest that stretches all the way to finland. Here we find deciduous and coniferous trees and much of Mongolia's larger wildlife such as bears and lynx. We also find minority peoples who have retained their customs  and traditions in forms different from the rest of Mongolia.

Mongolia has a number of peaks over 4000m and remains an 'underclimbed' country. The famous Altai range extends through much of the south of the republic, providing refuge to endangered species such as the Argali Sheep and the Snowleopard.

On studying the map, be aware that there are always hundreds of unmarked, unpaved roads that you canot see, that are never marked on maps, even the US Airforce maps and the Soviet maps. Thus it is rare and also ecologically undesirable, to travel accross the open steppe off of any track whatsoever, and indeed unecessary because there are always small tracks to follow.