Mongolia, region, Asia. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Columbia Encyclopedia World Factbook American Heritage Coll.
Winters are cold and dry and summers are warm and brief.
The Gobi desert, which is entirely wasteland, is in the central section. Rainfall averages less than 15 in. Wool, hides, meat, cloth, and leather goods are exported. Coal, iron ore, gold, and oil are important mineral resources. Mongolia is crossed north to south by a railroad linking Beijing with Russia.