Mongolian Ger (Yurt)

From ancient times to the present day, Mongolians have continuously used their traditional felt-covered dwelling called the ger. The ger is perfectly adapted to the nomadic lifestyle. Mongolian nomads move seasonally throughout the year, and the ger is lightweight, portable, and easy to assemble and dismantle during migrations.

The ger has two main parts:

1. The main wooden frame

2. The felt covering (roof and outer layers)

The main structure is made of wood. The covering is made from animal wool. Sheep’s wool is processed into felt to make the outer covering. Ropes and straps are braided from camel and goat hair to create strong bindings that hold the ger together.

The size of a ger depends on the number of wall sections (khana). Small gers with 2–3 wall sections are used during seasonal livestock migration (otor) and are also used as additional storage gers for food. Gers with 4–6 wall sections are the most common for living. Larger gers with 8, 12, 15, or 25 wall sections are used for meetings and public events.

A ger consists of five main wooden parts: two columns (bagana), one central crown (toono), about 81 roof poles (uni), wall sections (2–25), and a door.

The province famous for producing ger wooden frames is Övörkhangai Province, known for its craftsmanship, painting, and decorative patterns.