Most Kazakhs in this remote, mountainous region are dependent on domestic animals for their livelihood. They have roamed the mountains and valleys of western Mongolia with their herds since the 19th century. The area has many peaks, ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 metres. Today the Kazakhs in the province of Bayan-Ölgii number around 87,000 or about 88.7% of the provincial population, while across the country they represent around 4% of the total Mongolian population (about 110,000 people).