Photos Show The Stark Contrasts Of Mongolia's Economic Boom
REUTERS/Carlos Barria
But all this growth hasn't come without problems, namely the "resource curse" where economies become unstable because of overreliance on one sector. Political problems are emerging, and neighboring China's thirst for gold is leading to so-called "ninja miners" who work, dangerously and illegally, under the cover of darkness.
Meanwhile the economic disparities are glaring. Reuters photographer Carlos Barria recently spent some time documenting the ger districts of capital city Ulan Bator.
REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Despite the gleaming skyline of Ulan Bator in the background, people in the informal ger districts often live in the traditional Mongolian gers, also known as yurts. The New York Times notes that the circular structures have been used since the time of Genghis Khan.
In the picture below, Baljirjantsan Otgonseren, 32, stands inside her family ger.
REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Some 60 percent of Mongolia live in the ger districts, many living with limited access to basic services such as water and sanitation. The districts are growing, too — Reuters reports that a 2010 National Population Center census showed that every year between 30,000 and 40,0000 people migrate from the countryside to the capital.
REUTERS/Carlos Barria
This is all despite Mongolia having is one of the world's least densely populated countries — just 2.8 million people are spread across an area around three times the size of France.
REUTERS/Carlos Barria
- Bread, butter, milk-based health drinks, cooking oils classified as ultra-processed food, ICMR advises restriction
- Debt, equity holders approve merger of IDFC with IDFC First Bank
- Sunrisers Hyderabad to take on Punjab Kings as they look to grab the second spot in IPL points table
- 10 health benefits of eating Papaya in summer
- 10 health benefits of drinking Mango juice in summer
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market