Inner Mongolia and parts of the Dzungarian basin in Xinjiang encompass the Chinese portion of the plateau.

In Russia, the plateau forms Transbaikal, part of Buryatia, and the southern Irkutsk Oblast.

The average elevation of the Mongolian Plateau ranges from 915 to 1,525 meters (3,002 to 5,003 ft) above sea level.

[2] The highest point in the plateau is found in Tavan Bogd at 4,374 meters (14,350 ft) above sea level.

Grazing species such as yaks, Przewalski's horses, domesticated sheep, saiga antelope, Siberian ibex and Argali are common.