Marvelous Mongolia Trivia Quiz

Answer: Asralt Khairkhan

At just over 9,000 feet, Asralt Khairkhan is the highest mountain of the Khentii Mountains range. "Asralt Khairkhan" translates as "solicitous holy mountain" in Mongolian. It is located in the sum, or district of Erdene, in the Töv aimag (or province) of Mongolia.

The religion of Pi Shashin states Genghis Khan as its original founder, but there is little evidence in support of this. This religion believes in one god, "Pi" who can manifest into other deities, often an Orb, or a Sun. This religion was driven underground in the 20th century when the socialists had power in Mongolia, but since the country became democratic in the 1990s, the small following of this local religion have began practicing openly again.

Answer: Tuul

This steel statue of Genghis Khan on horseback is 131 feet tall, and is located where Genghis Khan, according to Mongolian legend, found a golden whip. The statue is on top of the complex, and there is a history museum inside. The statue was erected in 2008, and tourists walk up through the chest and neck of the horse, to enjoy a panoramic view.

The Tuul River is approximately 440 miles long and flows through the north and central part of Mongolia.

Answer: Lake Khuvsgul

Lake Khuvsgul is situated near Mongolia's border with Russia, in the northwest of the country. It is also close to the Sayan Mountains range, which run through Mongolia, Russia and Siberia.

Lake Khuvsgul is one of the world's 17 ancient lakes, and is over 2 million years old.

Answer: The Beatles

The Beatles Square, unofficially named, is a red brick wall in the shape of an apple, featuring bronze statues of the Beatles in the middle. It is in commemoration of the 1970s, when Mongolians would gather in the capital to sing Beatles songs, songs they had discovered from contraband records being smuggled into Mongolia. The square is popular and historically cherished by the locals; in 2017 citizens of Mongolia successfully protested against plans to demolish it.

Answer: Avalokitesvara

In Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara is a bodhisattva (someone who is on the path to attaining nirvana and Buddhahood) who personifies the compassion of all Buddhas. Portrayals of Avalokiteśvara vary by culture, sometimes male, sometimes female.

Migjid Janraisig Sum was not subject to the religious destruction at the hands of the socialists, in 1930s Mongolia. The Gandantegchinlen Monastery has been under government protection since 1994. Currently, around 150 monks live in this monastery.

Answer: Otgontenger

The highest peak of the Khangai Mountains, Otgontenger is located about 745 miles away from the capital, Ulaanbaatar. It is part of the three most sacred mountains of Mongolia, and has been worshipped in Mongolia since the 1700s.

There is a sculpture of Ochirvaani, a ferocious Buddhist deity, at the base of the mountain.

Answer: Dornod

Dornod literally means "the East" in Mongolian. Its capital city, Choibalsan, is named for the communist leader Khorloogiin Choibalsan, who carried out Stalinist purges in the 1930s, causing the deaths of around 35,000 people. The city of Choibalsan is located on the Kherlen River, which runs through both Mongolia and China.

Answer: Altai Mountains

The Khüiten Peak is approximately 14,300 feet high, and sits on the border between Mongolia and China. As well as being the highest peak in Mongolia, it is the highest peak in the Altay Prefecture, of Western China. "Khüiten" means "cold" in Mongolian.

The Altai Mountains range reaches Mongolia, Russia, China and Kazakhstan. The highest peak of this range is Belukha Mountain, at approximately 14,800 feet high, which is located on the border of Russia and Kazakhstan.

Answer: Gobi

The Gobi Desert covers large swathes of both Mongolia and China. The Gobi Desert's climate is dry and continental, with warm summers and bitterly cold winters. Although there is vegetation in the Gobi Desert, it is sparse, and mainly shrubs that have adapted to the droughts the desert frequently gets. Camels, gazelles, marmots and some reptiles live in the Gobi Desert; it is the sixth largest desert in the world, and the second-largest desert of Asia.

Answer: Bayan-Ölgii

The capital of Bayan-Ölgii is Ölgii. It is both Mongolia's only Muslim, and only Kazakh majority, aimag.

Bayan-Ölgii is known for its tradition for hunting with trained eagles, in a similar way to how falcons are trained to hunt. This practice is also very common in the countries of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and Bayan-Ölgii's high Kazakh population could explain this tradition in the aimag.