Day #63: Development vs preservation

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Mongolian spirituality (in the countryside at least) is strongly connected to the idea of living in harmony with nature and protecting the environment - anything that might harm an animal or corrupt a water supply, for example, is taboo. On the other hand, Mongolia is still a developing country with significant poverty but valuable natural resources which foreign countries are naturally keen to invest in, and as we drive around the country there is regularly evidence of new mining and quarrying (and quite a lot of litter everywhere). Our guide told me that Mongolians believe that when mining development disturbs the environment, nature becomes angry and the result will be drought, floods or other natural disasters.

Of course these tensions between development and environmentalism exist in all countries, but in Mongolia they are starkly observable. Today we visited Dalandzadgad, a small town growing quickly because of its proximity to the mining industry, with a brand new shopping centre. The town seemed bleak and polluted, despite its small size. This was followed by a visit to Yolyn Am National Park, where there is a famous ice lake (well, really an ice river), which we walked along (precariously, as at this time of year it is half-melted). The ice lake was an interesting phenomenon in a beautiful setting, though less spectacular than it might have been, as the ice had been turned brown in some places by the numbers of visitors walking along it. Similarly, it used to be possible to camp in the National Park, but this has been stopped, due to tourist damage. As the tourist industry grows I wonder how Mongolia will adapt and if future tourists will have the freedom we do to go everywhere pretty much undisturbed.

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Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Mongolia is on our short list of places to go
I'm enjoying your Mongolian adventure.

[HelenT]

Thanks very much for your comments. I highly recommend Mongolia, I think it's totally unique! The blog is keeping me sane and ensures I don't forget what I've done!