summer in mongolia

Summer in Mongolia is a pleasant time with similar temperatures to continental Europe. Nomads move to their “summering” valleys where their livestock can graze on green pastures. The summer migration is crucial to allow livestock, such as sheep, goats, horses, cattle, and camels, to graze freely on the rich pastures full of aromatic wild herbs and grass. This helps the animals to get important nutrients from the land and gain weight, preparing them well for the winter months.

The rotational grazing practised by the Mongolian nomads for centuries prevents overgrazing and maintains the health of the pasturelands.

Traditionally, summer is a time when nomads stop consuming meat and mainly consume dairy products like milk, cheese, curds, cream and yoghurt. Depending on the location, they also consume berries and pine nuts.

The summer months provide an opportunity to repair and maintain gers (traditional felt yurts), including replacing felt covers and repainting the roof poles that support the wooden lattice walls of a ger.

A Mongolian ger is fully constructed from natural materials and built without nails, and the felt covering of a ger can be lifted along the bottom to let the air flow through, providing a summer breeze.

The ger has been recognised internationally for its modular and sustainable design as being one of the most ergonomic human dwellings and has won accolades for its innovative adaptations, its stability, ease of assembly, and ability to withstand extreme weather conditions, both in winter and summer.

Summer is also a time for nomads to take it easy a bit after a hard winter’s work. Nomads socialise more, visiting neighbouring families, and sharing resources and engaging in communal activities. When nomads greet each other, they exchange traditional family heirloom snuff bottles, kept in hand-embroidered special silk sachets.

Summer is a time for cultural festivals. The Naadam Festival in July is a time when the best deels (traditional robes with silk belts) are handmade, the best horses are ridden, and the three main traditional sports - wrestling, horse racing, and archery - happen throughout the country in different locations.

Singing and music accompanies all celebrations.

But summer is also an important time to prepare for the cold winter months. Nomads cut and dry grass to make hay, which is stored for use as winter fodder for the livestock. They also prepare other supplies and provisions to ensure they are well-stocked for the harsh winter months.