The northern part of the country is covered by forest mountain ranges and the southern part by desert, desert steppe, and steppe areas with low mountains. High snow-capped mountains and glaciers and the eastern part by vast plains and wild heaths dominate the western part. The Mongolian environment has a large variety of features. Mongolia can be divided into six zones; desert, mountain, mountain taiga, mountain forest steppe, arid steppe and taiga.
The mountain belt of the Mongol Altai, Khangai and Khentii mountainous regions, with their perpetual snow, glaciers, traces and signs of ancient ice covers, has been well preserved due to a constantly cold climate and strong winds. The area is inhabited by some endangered animals (such as the Argali sheep, Ibex, Snow Leopard, Rock Ptarmigan and Altai Snowcock) and plants (such as the Dwarf Siberian Pine and White Gentiana). About 81% of the country is higher than 1000 meters above sea level and the average elevation is 1580 meters. The highest mountain is Tavan Bogd in Bayan Ulgii Aimag at 4374 meters and the lowest point is Khukh Nuur in the east at 560 meters.
Mountains and dense forests predominate central and northern Mongolia and grasslands cover large areas of this region. Across the eastern part of the country stretches the vast land grasslands of the Asian steppe. The steppe grades into Gobi Desert, which extends throughout southern Mongolia from the east to the west of the country. The Gobi Desert, which extends throughout southern Mongolia from the east to the west of the country. The Gobi is mostly gravelly, but also contains large areas of sand dunes in the dries areas of Gobi near the southern border. The country has numerous saltwater and freshwater lakes. Although it boasts over 260 sunny days a year and is known as the "Land of the blue sky", Mongolia's climate is extreme. Long subarctic winters are harsh with average tempratures dropping to -34'C (-88'F) in January and early February. So some rivers remain frozen until June. The general landscape of the country is concerned its natural origin, which is comparatively less destroyed by human activities and remained keeping its original nature.

Great Lakes
According to long term studies, Mongolia gets a 230 mm or 361 km.qube water of average annual precipitation . The most of it evaporates and only 10% or 36 km.qube stays on the surface and 37% of which waters the soils and 63% or 22 km.qube supplies the surface water-rivers and streams.
6898 springs are currently in use. Most of Mongolian 3500 lakes are located in the western and northern parts of th country- biggest lakes like Uvs, Khovsgul, Khyargas, Khar, Boon Tsagaan, Orog, Achit and many more. 1194 lakes of Mongolia do not dry all the year around.

Mongolia has comparatively high levels of surface and ground water resources. The rivers of Mongolia belong to the inland drainage basins of the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and Central Asia. The water network is of a greater density in the north of the country. The longest river is the Orkhon at 1124 kilometers in length. There are some 3000 rivers in total with a combined length of 67,000 kilometers.
There are also over 3000 big and small lakes, 6,900 springs, 190 glaciers and 250 mineral water springs. 187 glaciers are in mongolia, which covers 540 square km. The biggest glacier of the country Potanin is in the Altai Mountains and has a total area of 107.9 square km.

Winter-Spring-Summer-Autumn Climate
The main characteristics of the climate of Mongolia are sunny days, long and cold winters, low precipitation and large annual, seasonal, monthly and diurnal fluctuations in air temperature. The average mean temperature recorded in January is -34'C in the plateau and depressions, but extreme temperatures have been recorded between -50 and -56 degrees centigrade. In the northern mountains the average mean temperature in the warmest warmth is between +35'C and +41'C, depending on the area.
The total annual precipitation in mountainous regions averages to about 400 mm, in the steppe from 150-200 mm and in the desert-steppe less that 100 mm, About 75-85% of the precipitation falls during the three summer months. The spring season is often very windy and dust storms are common in the desert regions.

Fauna
The science study of Mongolian fauna was started in the second half of the 19th century. Everyone may find it difficult to distinguish between wild and domesticated animals as both roam freely on the open, vast steppe. Though Mongolia does not have the large games such lion, elephant that attract visitors to Africa, it has many rare and endangered species such as the snow leopard, Argali and Ibex.
Mammals: Currently 136 species of mammals concerning-8 classes, 22 families, 70 types of mammals have been registered in Mongolia, most of them are endemic in Central Asia. 60 species of them are hunted as they are game animals.
Birds: Mongolia has a rich composition of bird species due to the migratory routes from the Pasific ana Indian Oceans to the Mediterranean Sea and to Arctic Ocean and Northern Tundra.. 426 species of birds have been observed in Mongolia- 322 species or 78% are migrated. 30 species of birds are included in the "Red book of Mongolia" as they are concerned as rare and endangered.And some lakes as Khovsgul, Uvs, Khar Us, Buun Tsagaan, Ugii, Terkhiin Tsagaan and also some rivers where high density of birds is observed have been strictly protected partially. Birds such as Grus leucogeranus, Grus vipio, Chlamydotis undulata, ciconia migra, Pelecanus crispus, Platalea leucorodia, Anas formosa, Limnodromus semipalmatus, Larus relictus have been protected.
120 species of birds are game birds.
Reptiles: Currently 22 species of reptiles have been registered in the country such as alsophylax pipiens, teratoscincus przwalskii, cyrtopodion elongatus, laudakia stoliczkana, phrynocephalus versicolor, phrynocephalus helioscopus, lacerta agilis, lacerta vivipara, eryx tataricus, elaphe dione, coluber spinalis, elaphe schrenckii, natrix natrix, vipera berus, qkistrodon halys... most of these reptiles are endemic.
Amphibians: In the world currently, 3 types, 29 families, 3000 species of insects have been registered, of which 2 types, 4 families of 8 species of amphibians have been observed in Mongolia such as Bufo danatensis, Salamandrella keyserlingii, Rana chensinensis, Hyla japonica, bufo raddei, ...some of the amphibians are endemic.
Fish: Mongolia has 75 species of fishes. Fish that are not listed in the "Red book of Mongolia" are sport fish. Common fish in Mongolia: taimen, great kalyga, strugeons, arctis cisco, siberian whitefish, pikes- amur pike, northern pike, cyprinid fish, carp, roach, dwaft altai osman, mongolian grayling, mongolian redfin, look up, haitej sculpin...

Flora
There can be said to be three distinct types of ecosystem related to flora- grassland and shrubs, forests and desert vegetation. Crop cultivation and human settlements make up less than 1% of Mongolia's territory. Although there is so much grassland here, used for grazing, overgrazing is a problem in some areas.
Forests- The natural regeneration of Mongolian forests is slow, fires and insects due to the harsh climate often damage the forests. 8.1% of the total territory is covered by forest, total 140 species of tree, shrubs and woody plants. Trees are used as a source of fuel, whether it is the larch, pine or birch in the north, the saxaul in Gobi Desert.
Vascular and Lower Plants- There are 2823 species of vascular plants, 445 species of moss, 930 species of lichen, 900 species of fungi and 1236 species of algae. 845 species of plants are used in traditional Mongolian Medicine, 1000 species of fodder, 173 for food and 64 for industry. There are now 128 species of plants listed as endangered and thraetened in the Mongolian Red Book 1997.