David Verberckt

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Each winter, a combination of rapid urban growth, heavy coal consumption, industrial emissions, and the city's basin-like geography creates some of the world's most severe urban air pollution. As temperatures plunge below -30°C, smoke becomes trapped beneath temperature inversions, turning the capital into a haze-filled landscape where daily life continues despite the harsh conditions.

See more at:

https://openeyesontheworld.com/steppe-to-smog-the-vanishing-nomadic-horizon



©David Verberckt | December 2025

Gobi Desert, Mongolia. Winter brings a different challenge beyond the city. Across the vast Gobi, herders endure extreme cold, fierce winds, and temperatures that can fall below -40°C. Protecting livestock through the long winter months is a constant struggle, as animals face frozen pastures, snowstorms, and dwindling food supplies. Survival depends on experience, resilience, and an intimate knowledge of the land.

See more at:
https://openeyesontheworld.com/steppe-to-smog-the-vanishing-nomadic-horizon



©David Verberckt | December 2025