Mongolia (Mongolian Cyrillic: Монгол улс, Mongolian Script: Image:260px-Monggol ulus svg.png) officially the Khanate Republic of Mongolia is a country located in East Asia north of China and Manchuria and south of Russia. Mongolia nearly shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west, but does not only sharing a close distance. Mongolia's history and culture is significantly based on Genghis Khan and his army. Mongolia is an independent country but is a protectorate of the Soviet Union.