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Anu, a Mongolian snow leopard, and her three cubs in 2015, 2016, and early 2017. (The third cub’s eyes are barely visible at the lower right of the last picture). The cubs are now fully grown and snow leopard scientists and fans are hoping Anu will have another littler this winter.

November 6th, the Mongolian and Greek governments began a program to share Greece’s greenhouse technology and experience with Mongolia. (Apparently Greece is good at greenhouses; I didn’t know that.)

Mongolia’s average temperature is below freezing, so growing crops is pretty difficult, and most plant foods have to be imported from warmer countries. Greenhouses could make it possible to grow crops in the country and improve food pricing and availability, but it is difficult to make greenhouses work in the extreme climate.

Baigalmaa Norjmaa is an utterly fearless and badass Mongol adventurer. She’s climbed most of Mongolia’s highest mountains (and Kilimanjaro). She is a mountain biker and a sky runner (racing on foot around the tops of mountains).

On November 5th, Baikal set off from Ulaanbaatar, leading a group of four humans and ten camels. They are traveling to London, 12000 kilometers away. On camels.

Turgen Mountain, in the Altai mountain range, Uvs aimag, Mongolia. The water is colored turquoise by tiny grains of granite ground off the sides of the mountain by the ice.

The Ulzii (endless knot) is a symbol used to decorate just about everything in Mongolia, especially doorways. It represents eternity, eternal love, and happiness.

Saiga antelope (бөхөн) have goofy melty faces. Their muppet noses filter out dust so they can handle desert life in Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

I wrote about the mysterious deaths of half the world’s бөхөн population last winter, but luckily the small group living in Mongolia was unaffected. This year so far about 900 have died in Mongolia as well, but at least now we have a pretty good guess as to the cause: Ovine rinderpest, an African disease that infects goats and sheep. Mongolia had its first major cases last year, prompting scientists to check бөхөн corpses, which also tested positive for the disease.

“Sand flower” crystals from the Gobi desert, Mongolia. In very dry areas, gypsum and sand sometimes form flower-shaped crystals.

It is okay to talk to me privately, but sadly I don’t think I can help you much with this. I really wish I could, but I’m not an expert in Mongolian history. I’m not even Mongolian, so I didn’t learn Mongolian history in school or anything. I’ll help as much as I can, but I don’t think that’s very much.

I also would suggest asking @minimongol if you haven’t yet. She’s Mongolian, very smart, and usually happy to answer questions. Everyone interested in Mongolia should follow her. 

Also, Tsaagan Sar, which is coming up in about a month, is celebrated with one’s extended family. If anyone in your extended family, even distant relatives, is celebrating it, they would probably be very happy to have you join them, eat lots of delicious dumplings, and talk about your family’s history.

I do have a couple book suggestions for you, though, if that sort of thing is helpful to you at all.