What Is a Yurt? History and Uses of Yurts

A yurt, or a ger, is a circular tent made of a collapsible wooden inner structure with wool felt draped over it. Yurts can easily be set up and taken down when moving from place to place. Originating in central Asia, yurts are still used as housing by many people in rural Mongolia. In fact, in modern Turkish, “yurt” is synonymous with “homeland.”

Unlike a camping tent, a yurt functions like a real home, protecting inhabitants from the elements while still simple enough in construction to suit a nomadic lifestyle. There is a space in the center of the yurt for a wood-burning stove and a chimney, which keeps the yurt a warm living space in the winter.

Traditional yurts have pattern decorations featuring various cultural symbols and sacred traditions. Modern yurts in central Asia still have these important historical patterns. Since yurts are such an important touchpoint of cultural history, they serve as structures for cafés that offer traditional food, as well as museums, and cultural centers throughout Central Asia. One of the largest yurts can be found in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Yurts originated among nomadic groups in the steppes of central Asia, with coverings made of animal skins or felt. The structure goes back multiple millennia: Yurt (in the Turkic language), ger in Mongolian, and the Russian yurta have at least a 3,000-year history.

• Ancient history: Greek historian Herodotus is credited with the first written account of a yurt in the fifth century B.C.E. In book four of Historia, he mentioned the tent-like dwellings of the Scythians—a nomadic people of the central Asian steppes who traveled with their belongings on wagons.
• A nomadic heritage: In addition to Mongolia, the yurt has a long history among nomadic groups in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. The traditional decoration of these yurts is specific to the cultural heritage of each nation, with cultural symbols like mythic beasts, elements, and geometric patterns. The yurt’s crown is a highly decorated piece that was passed down in families from central Asian cultures.
• Yurts in Western culture: William Copperthwaite introduced yurts to the United States in the 1960s. Pacific Yurts, the first company to start constructing yurts in North America, was established in 1978 and helped establish yurts as an alternative to tents and for glamping enthusiasts.
• DIY yurts: Although yurts are built as more permanent structures these days, you can buy a yurt kit to construct it yourself. Yurt construction tutorials are available online, and many companies sell yurt kits.

Although North American yurts and modern Mongolian ger use modern materials like aircraft cables and waterproof vinyl canvases, the general structure of yurts remains the same as those nomads made thousands of years ago. Yurt construction was named an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013 by UNESCO.

The construction of traditional yurts for central Asian nomads and modern yurts for camping and glamping is very consistent. Yurt construction can take about two hours with experience. It requires the following pieces and steps:

• Base: The circular base serves as the foundation. Traditionally, this was a flat section of the ground, but nowadays, it can be a wooden platform or deck.
• Wooden lattice wall: The circular shape of the yurt is made of a light wooden lattice wall. For the Mongolian, Turkic, and central Asian nomadic tribes, these lattice walls are easy to break down and transport on camels or yaks. The lattice wall is tied together with twine (formerly animal hair or leather), and the tension keeps the lattice wall stable.
• Trellis frame: A circular trellis frame sits on top of a floor covering, rugs, or insulated floor mats.
• Internal structure: The rest of the internal structure consists of bent roof poles, a door frame, and a crown (the central ring of the roof). A compression ring holds the roof poles together.
• Crown: The crown sits on top of two decorative support posts. The roof poles are bent and arranged in the shape of sunbeams to attach to the crown and the lattice wall. Crowns are partially open to allow space for a chimney and for air to circulate; decorative crowns for traditional yurts are passed down from family to family.
• Covering: Depending on the temperature, yurts can have up to five layers of felt covering their internal structure. These are then covered with a layer of canvas or other waterproof material to protect the yurt against the elements.
• Location and drainage: During the rainy season, yurts require a trench nearby for water draining. All yurts also need a wide, flat plain for construction. The steppes of central Asia and yurt camping in other countries remain popular in wideopen spaces.

The enduring popularity of the yurt is due in part to its ability to withstand the elements. Yurts are strong against wind from any direction; instead of pounding against the flat walls of a rectangular house, the wind whips around the circular yurt structure. This design protected nomadic herding tribes on the frozen steppes of central Asia, especially in places like Mongolia and Siberia.

Yurts’ easy disassembly enabled herders to move with the seasons. The wooden door also helps protect inhabitants, as opposed to a flap fabric door like a regular tent. The ability to put many warm felt coverings also helps insulate the yurt, while room for a warming stove is built into the structure of the yurt. During the summer, inhabitants could choose to cook outside instead.

Additionally, campers use yurts because of their utilitarian design.

The ger is still very common in Mongolia, with “yurt quarters” taking up parts of major cities like Ulaanbaatar. In other parts of the world, yurts are becoming more common because yurt construction is simple and yurt kits are widely available. Backcountry regions in North America, such as Colorado, and Europe are very popular for yurt camping.

Although people still choose to use local hardwoods for yurt construction, modern materials—such as metal frames, tarpaulin, plexiglass domes, and wire ropes—are now in use as well. These materials are more secure and meant for a yurt to stay in one place for a longer period of time.

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