Map of Mongolia – Provinces, Cities & Location Guide
Explore Mongolia with this interactive map showing Ulaanbaatar, the Gobi Desert, the Altai Mountains, Lake Khövsgöl and the broad grasslands of Central and East Asia. Zoom in to locate cities, provincial centres, roads, lakes and border regions.
Mongolia is known for expansive steppe landscapes, mountain ranges and widely spaced settlements. Its geography makes a country-wide map particularly useful for understanding distances and regions.
Mongolia lies between Russia and China. Its capital is Ulaanbaatar, and it comprises 21 provinces plus the separately administered capital. Major features include the Gobi Desert, Altai Mountains, eastern steppes and Lake Khövsgöl.
Interactive map | Regions | Landmarks | FAQs
Move and zoom to explore provinces, settlements, mountains, deserts and border regions.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Map labels, roads and boundaries may change.
Where Is Mongolia Located?
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia, with Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Its capital, Ulaanbaatar, lies in the north-central part of the country. Mongolia has no coastline and covers approximately 1.56 million square kilometres. Landscapes range from forested mountains in the north to the Gobi's deserts and semi-deserts in the south. The wide eastern steppes are mainly open grasslands. The map helps show how widely separated the settlements and natural features are.
Mongolia’s Provinces and Geographic Areas
Mongolia is divided into 21 provinces (aimags) plus the separately administered capital, Ulaanbaatar. Provinces are further divided into districts known as soums. The areas below are broad geographic groupings, not additional administrative divisions.
| Broad area | Provinces and features |
|---|---|
| North and central | Ulaanbaatar, Töv, Selenge, Darkhan-Uul, Orkhon, Bulgan, Arkhangai and Khövsgöl; mountains, valleys, lakes and urban centres. |
| West and northwest | Bayan-Ölgii, Khovd, Uvs and Zavkhan; Altai ranges, highlands and large inland lakes. |
| South and southwest | Govi-Altai, Bayankhongor, Övörkhangai, Dundgovi, Ömnögovi, Dornogovi and Govisümber; varied steppe and Gobi landscapes. |
| East | Khentii, Dornod and Sükhbaatar; extensive open grasslands and border country. |
Major Cities and Places to Find
- Ulaanbaatar: Capital and principal urban centre, in the Tuul River valley.
- Erdenet: Industrial city associated with copper mining, in northern Mongolia.
- Darkhan: Industrial and transport centre north of the capital.
- Choibalsan: Major centre of eastern Mongolia, in Dornod Province.
- Ölgii: Administrative centre of Bayan-Ölgii in the far west.
- Dalanzadgad: Southern city used as a gateway to Gobi landscapes.
Names may appear in different Latin-letter spellings on maps. For more detail, zoom in to the relevant province or settlement.
Landmarks and Natural Features
- Gobi Desert: Vast southern region of desert, gravel plains and rocky formations.
- Lake Khövsgöl: Large freshwater lake in the north near the Russian border.
- Altai Mountains: High mountain ranges across western Mongolia.
- Orkhon Valley: Historic cultural landscape associated with earlier steppe empires.
- Khongoryn Els: Prominent sand dunes in the southern Gobi.
- Terelj: Mountain-and-valley landscape east of Ulaanbaatar, popular for excursions.
Some attractions lie far from paved roads and services. Map labels and access routes may vary by zoom level and provider updates.
Roads, Rail and Travel Connections
Major roads and railways link Ulaanbaatar to important provincial centres. Rail connections run towards Russia through Sükhbaatar and towards China through Zamyn-Üüd. Chinggis Khaan International Airport serves the capital area. Outside main corridors, routes may be unpaved and journeys can involve long distances. Weather, seasonal conditions and road closures can affect access. Use the embedded map for geographic orientation, not live route planning; check transport operators and current local advice before a journey.
What the Mongolia Map Helps You Explore
- Identify Mongolia’s position between Russia and China.
- Compare the capital region with sparsely populated provinces.
- Locate the Gobi, Altai Mountains and Lake Khövsgöl.
- See broad connections among towns, roads and rail corridors.
- Explore western mountain country and eastern steppe landscapes.
Related Maps and Location Guides
Mongolia Map FAQs
What is the capital of Mongolia?
Ulaanbaatar, in the north-central part of the country.
Where is Mongolia on the world map?
It is a landlocked country in Asia between Russia and China.
How many provinces does Mongolia have?
Mongolia has 21 provinces, called aimags, plus Ulaanbaatar as a separate administrative unit.
Is Mongolia mostly desert?
No. Southern areas include the Gobi, but Mongolia also has grasslands, forests, lakes and mountain ranges.
Where is the Gobi Desert?
The Gobi extends across southern Mongolia and northern China.
Where is Lake Khövsgöl?
In northern Mongolia, in Khövsgöl Province near the Russian border.
Can I use this map for driving directions?
Use it for location reference only. Check live navigation, road conditions and local advice before travelling.
Disclaimer
For general geographic information only. Maps, boundaries, roads and landmarks may be approximate or outdated. Do not rely on this page for navigation, emergencies, surveying or official decisions. Check current travel conditions and transport information. External websites are independent; links do not imply affiliation or endorsement.