FEATURES. Three physically dis tinct regions are recognizable: (1) A central elevated plateau known the Desert of Gobi, 2500 to 3000 feet above the level of the sea. 500 miles or more in breadth. and extending from southwest to northeast for 1000 miles, It may be described as an almost treeless stony or gravel ly plain, diversified by ranges of low barren hills a few hundred feet above the general level of the country. and marked here and there with pro jecting crag, and shattered peaks apparently of volcanic origin. Toward the west and northwest are parts over-blown with loose sands, which till the bottoms of the smaller valleys, or form fantastic. ever-ehanging ridges and hillocks. pre senting It weird and dreary aspect, and travers able only by camels. Elsewhere, however. espe eially toward the IlurkuIls in the west, and in the northeastern section, are found many wide grassy plains, with patches of scrub and furze, and clumps of parched dowers. merging in the north into the rich pasture land and fairly wooded hill country south and east of the Kentei con of the Val)lonoi Mountains of Si beria. (2) A still more elevated plateau from 3011) to 5000 feet above the level of the sea. lying to the northwest of this so-called desert plateau, and hounded toward Sungaria and Si beria by the Altai and the Sayan Mountain's. This is the region sometime, called Outer Thal golia. it is a mountainous country, clad with forests and intersected with numerous streams. chief mountains are the Tatum. the Tais khir, the Kara-Adsirga. the Arzy-Bodgm the Ehangai, and the ('hammy, with a general north west to southeast trend. (3) The fertile, undu lating. and well-wooded region usually called Eastern or Inner .Mongolia, lying to the south and southeast of the Oobi. and intersected by the greater Khingan Mountains and their southwest ern continuations. It lies along the .Nlanehurian provinces of Kirin and Shing-king. and stretches westward) along the (treat Wall as far as Kwei itwa•eh'ing.
IlvintocatArtiv. ith the exception Of the southwest parts of the Plateau, the country is fairly well watered. and even in
numerous are encountered. which. however, speedily lose themselves in the sand. Water. however. may he (mind itliiiost everywhere by digging a few feet. l'nfortunately. these regions are so frequently wind-swept that the water boles are ,.0011 covered over or hidden by the tine dust with which the winds are laden. The drainage of the country is partly to the north. into Lake Baikal by the Eder, the Orkhon, and other trib utaries of the Selenglia, and partly to the north east and east by the ()nom through the shilka, and by the Kerulem through the Dalai-nor and the i1rgrun into the Amur. The extreme eastern part of 3.1ongolia drains partly into the Amur through the Nonni and the Sung:ill of Nlan climb], and partly to the sea by the 'en, which finds its way into I he Cult of Pe-chi-li by the Liao. There are several lakes in Kohdo and I'liasstitai, some of them braekish, from which Ilmnnsntis Of tons of salt are obtained. The largest is Kosogol (500 foot above sea-level), near the Russian frontier, on the extreme cast. partly in .Manehuria. is the Dalai-nor. and there are many lake. of less extent in Southeast Abut golia.
F:o1,01?Y A ND NI I NEIRLS. The eounIvs .41.114 to he huilt up of granites. gneisses, and crystal line ?,1 reluenli age, null there are cations of its being rich in mineral,. In the Sayan Mountains immense beds and boulders of nephrite have been found, and in the Kitoi Alps, near Lake Baikal, are great deposits of serpen tine and graphite. Silver ores and graphite have also been found on the longolian side, and coal, apparently of Jurassic age, has been found in the Tannn Mountains and the Yenisei basin, as well as near Kukuhoto (Kwei-bwa-eleing near the great bend of the Yellow liver. In the lower or central plateau red and brown con glomerates. sandstones, and clays are common, and both crystalline and mountain limestone abound in the Khingan range.