Mongolian economic history is rooted in agriculture and livestock herding. The country’s nomads raise and herd livestock and usually move approximately every three months in order to adapt to often unforgiving weather.
Even the global credit crunch has impacted Mongolia’s nomad population. A 2009 Wall Street Journal story explored how a drop in demand for cashmere among recession-hit shoppers caused financial woes for some farmers, including loan defaults.
Getty photographer Aletheia Casey recently documented Mongolian nomadic life and the cultural pressures that are changing some of those traditions. Hear more from Casey in the slide show above.
Getty photographer Aletheia Casey describes her recent experiences documenting Mongolian nomadic life.
Seasonal flooding
A young boy wheels his bike through heavy flood waters near Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Motorbikes
Men repair their motorbike near Ulaanbaatar. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images.
Nadaam festival
A man warms up for the yearly Nadaam festival, which highlights athletics and horse riding. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Watching the sky
A man watches the weather after feeding his livestock. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Hearding
A nomadic family’s plot of land. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Nomadic home
A family’s Ger, which is a portable tent-like home, near Ulaanbaatar. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Taking a rest
A nomadic man rests after grazing his family’s sheep and cows. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Playground
A concrete playground near Ulaanbaatar. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Nomadic lifestyle
A man poses in front of his home near Ulaanbaatar. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Farming
A family milks their cows at dusk. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Fueling up
A family make a fuel stop on the way to their family’s Ger. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Laundry
Boots dry on top of a family’s Ger. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Dinner time
A family cooks their meal on an outdoor stove. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
Cold weather
A nomadic girl takes a break from milking the family’s cows. Photo by Aletheia Casey/Getty Images
What do you think? Leave a respectful comment.