Simukov’s Map of Mongolia: A Landmark in Mongolian Geography

The Mongolian scholar, geographer, ethnographer, and archaeologist Shar Damdinsuren, known as Simukov, created the first map of Mongolia’s geography, politics, and natural features, and published 3,000 copies in 1937

As a travel itinerary designer, I’ve always been fascinated by maps; they are a traveler’s best friend. A good map doesn’t just show locations; it helps plan journeys, discover hidden treasures, and make every trip meaningful. In the tourism industry, maps are essential tools for guiding travelers, organizing routes, ensuring safety, and even promoting destinations.

Mongolia has a rich history in cartography, and its first scientifically accurate map was created in 1937 by Shar Damdinsüren, better known as Simukov. He was a remarkable Mongolian scholar, a researcher, geographer, ethnologist, and archaeologist who devoted his life to studying Mongolia’s landscapes, peoples, and history. Simukov combined scientific rigor with deep local knowledge, making his work groundbreaking for the time.

Simukov’s map was the first to comprehensively show Mongolia’s geography, political boundaries, and natural features, with 3,000 copies printed. For the first time, several mountain ranges, including the spurs of the Mongolian Tian Shan Mountains (Khaya Mountains), were accurately marked. The map also detailed Mongolia’s major natural regions, illustrating their horizontal and vertical shifts, making it the country’s first Physical-Geographical Map.

It included rivers, mountains, the Khangai region, the Gobi, springs, wells, and even salt marshes. Elevations were carefully recorded: the Altai Tavan Bogd peaks at 4,500 meters above sea level, and Bogd Khan Mountain at 2,200 meters. The map’s scale was 1:2,000,000, with 1 cm representing 20 km.

Simukov’s work was revolutionary, providing an unprecedented, scientifically accurate representation of Mongolia’s landscapes. It remains a cornerstone of Mongolian cartography and a testament to his dedication, vision, and expertise. Today, as travelers explore Mongolia, maps continue to be essential, just as Simukov showed; understanding the land is the first step to truly connecting with it.

Maps, whether historic or modern, remain a traveler’s key to discovering Mongolia — and Simukov’s map is where it all began.

#Mongols #TheMongols #HistoricalMaps #Mongolia #Simukov #Geography #Tourism

Who Was Andrei Dmitriyevich Simukov?

Andrei Dmitriyevich Simukov (1902–1942) was a Russian-born geographer, ethnologist, archaeologist, and explorer who devoted much of his life to studying and mapping Mongolia. Born in St. Petersburg to a well-educated family, Simukov showed remarkable curiosity from a young age, mastering field mapping techniques, plant and insect studies, and local wildlife by age 12–13.

In 1923, at age 21, he joined the legendary explorer P.K. Kozlov’s Mongolia-Tibet expedition, marking the beginning of a lifelong connection with Mongolia. Simukov dedicated himself to studying its geography, natural resources, and nomadic culture, traveling over 70,000 km across the country and leading more than 15 major research expeditions.

He created Mongolia’s first Physical-Geographical Map, accurately marking mountains, rivers, natural regions, and elevations. In 1934, he published the Geographical Atlas of the People’s Republic of Mongolia, the first of its kind, and in 1937, the General Map of Mongolia, known as “Simukov’s Green,” became a landmark in Mongolian cartography.