Yurt

A yurt, also known as a ger in Mongolian, is a portable, round tent. It is covered with skins or felt. A yurt is commonly used as a dwelling by nomads in the grasslands of Central Asia.

Construction

A Mongolian Ger

Traditional yurts consist of an expanding wooden circular frame carrying a felt cover. The felt is made from the wool of sheep. The wood to make the external structure is not to be found on the treeless steppes.

A yurt is designed to be dismantled and the parts carried compactly on camels or yaks to be rebuilt on another site. Complete construction takes around 2 hours.

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  Mongolian Ger: starting with walls and door
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  Mongolian Ger: starting to place roof poles
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  Mongolian Ger: with roof poles in place
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  Mongolian Ger: placing the thin inner cover on the roof
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  Mongolian Ger: adding felt cover
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  Mongolian Ger: adding the outer cover
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  A ger sits on the Steppes near Mandalgovi