North Mongolia

L og cabins, pine forests and monstrous fish do not conform to the classic image of Mongolia’s desolate steppes. But strung along its northern border are three provinces of such lush and serene vegetation that one might confuse them for bits of Switzerland. Winters are long and cold, with snow staying on the ground until May. Summers bring wildflowers and the snowmelt fills up lakes and rivers, many of which flow north to Lake Baikal in Russia. There are teems with elk, reindeer and bear, and the river and lakes brim with fish.