One day in the life of a Mongolian family of reindeer herders

Photographer Joel Santos traveled a thousand kilometers across the territory of Northern Mongolia to get to the Ganbaa family living near Lake Hubsugul. Although Joel spent only a few days in the settlement of the small people of Tsaatana, he traveled to distant lands for four days: three of them by car, one on horseback. During a trip to Mongolia, on which he embarked with a translator and another photographer friend, Joel met the Ganbaa family, whose head is Purev, a widow and reindeer herder.

The photographer traveled a thousand kilometers to get to the lands of one of the smallest peoples on the planet. The Tsaatans have still preserved a nomadic way of life, ancient crafts and the culture of breeding reindeer.

Purev, a female reindeer herder and the head of the family, stands next to the traditional Tsaatan family dwelling called urts (chum), Altai Mountains, Mongolia.

One of the youngest members of the family snuggles up to the deer.

Purev with his family.

Purev strokes a snow-white deer.

For Caatans, deer are a source of milk and cheese. And of course, deer serve as a means of transportation for reindeer herders.

Little Ukra can already ride a deer that belongs to her family.

Purev melts the oven in the yurt with dried deer manure.

Women enjoy the warmth from the campfire.