The yourta is an easily dismountable and transportable circular construction, covered with felt, sometimes with plaits, and in the wet areas, with a layer of fabric moreover.
The mural reinforcement is formed by 4 A 8 formed foldable lattices of branches (half-round) of wood. They are connected between them by tied leather laces forming of the flexible trés clevis pins which leave play has the unit to allow folding.
At the entry, a solid tallies out of wood is inserted between two lattices; thus, this input can be closed by a true gate in joinery. A fabric cord or tape encloses the lattices, maintainsthose in circular position and prevents that they do not deviate underthe pressure from the roof.
With each intersection of the slats forming the lattices, one of the poles of the roof is fixed, the other end emboitant itself in the holes of the ring of compression. The reinforcement of the yourta form a surprisingly solid monopiece structure or all the forces intern are balanced. This construction does not require large not easily findable pieces of wood in the steppe. Various wood turpentines are used according to the availability of the area: often willow, frene or of the genevrier, and for the roof, of the larch, the pine or sometimes of the bamboo (in China). In the very large yourtas (7 m and more), the ring of compression is sometimes supported by two vertical posts.
Revètement is composed of several rectangular felt parts. In winter, several layers can be superimposed to improve I' insulation. During the hot summer dayss, the felt of the walls sometimes is removed and replaced by plaits to give a better circulation of air.
Today, the yourtas are often covered with a fabric waterproofed to protect the felt from I' moisture. A smaller part covering the opening of the roof can be handled outside. All the pieces are maintained by cords and tapes of which the provision depends on the areas. II exists two principal variations of the yourta; for the first the poles of the roof are right (Mongolia), in the second, they are curved (in all the other areas) forming a cupola. A yourta weighs deux-cent A deux-cent fifty kilos, the three quarters of the weight coming from the felt alone.
The assembly of the yourta is traditionally the business of the women and occupies two A three people during a few hours. On the other hand transport requires one or two camels, three horses, a van or a station-wagon.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)