Bayan-Ölgiy Province
Encyclopedia
Bayan-Ölgii is the westernmost of the 21 aimags
(provinces) of Mongolia
. The aimag was established in 1940. Its capital is Ölgii.
and China
. The border between the two neighbouring countries is very short here, though, and ends after about 40 km at the eastern end of Kazakhstan
. Within Mongolia, the neighbouring aimags are Uvs
in the north east and Khovd in the south east..
Bayan-Ölgii is the highest Mongolian aimag. For the most part it is located in the Mongolian Altay
, at the transition point to the Russian Altay. About 10% of the territory are covered by forests, consisting primarily of Siberian Larch
.
The Nairamdal Peak
(also Friendship Peak, Chinese: Youyi Feng) of the Altai Tavan Bogd (five saints mountain) massif mountain marks the corner between the three neighbouring countries. About 2.5 km further south on the Mongolian-Chinese border, the Hüiten Peak is the highest point of Mongolia with 4374 m. The massif includes several glaciers, such as the 19 km Potanin Glacier
, and is only accessible to experienced climbers with local guidance.
The Khovd River (the longest in the western Mongolian Great Lakes Depression
) has its origin in this aimag. It is fed by the three lakes Khoton, Khurgan, and Dayan, and in turn feeds the lake Khar-Us Lake in the Khovd Aimag. The Tolbo Lake is a large saline lake about 50 km south of the aimag capital. It features clear and cold water on an elevation of 2080 m.
Most inhabitants of Bayan-Ölgii are Kazakhs
(88.7%). Smaller parts of the population are composed of Uriankhai
(7.2%), Dörvöd (1.5%), Khalkha
, Tuva
and Khoshuud
. A significant portion of the population speaks Kazakh
as their mother tongue and the Mongolian language
only as a second language, if at all.
After democratization, many inhabitants moved to their historical homeland, Kazakhstan
, assuming they would find a better future there. The result was a noticeable loss of population in 1991-1993, when approx. 30,000 were repatriated to Kazakhstan. A noticeable number of former immigrants have been returning, so that the population has risen again noticeably.
The mosque of Ölgii also houses the Islamic Center of Mongolia. It is placed at an unusual angle within the fabric of the city, because the building was oriented exactly towards Mecca
. There's also a Madrasah (Islamic school) at the same place.
The aimag is famous for the traditional hunting method using trained eagles. The animals work in a similar way as hunting falcons do. While eagles are used for hunting in other parts of the world, this area is arguably the birth place of eagle falconry.
(ULG/ZMUL) has one unpaved runway. It offers regular flights to Ulaanbaatar
and irregular flights to Almaty
in Kazakhstan
.
A road connecting to Russia starts in Tsagaannuur.
The border with China is open only for a short time in the summer.
covers 6,362 km² and is located south of the highest mountain of Mongolia. It includes the lakes Khoton, Khurgan, and Dayan. The protected area offers a home for many species of alpine animal, such as the Argali
sheep, Ibex, Red deer
, Beech marten
, Moose
, Snow cock, and Golden eagle
.
The Khökh Serkhiin Nuruu Protected Area (659 km²) and the Siilkhemiin Nuruu National Park (1,428 km²) are of similar character.
The Develiin Aral Natural Reserve (103 km²) is established around Develiin Island at the confluence of the rivers Lsan Khooloi and Khovd. Since 2000 it has provided protection for various birds and animals including pheasant
s, boar
s, and beaver
s.
The Tsambagarav Uul National Park includes 1,115 km² of land around the glaciers near the Khovd aimag and protects the snow leopard
s living there, among others.
* - Tsagaannuur including
Aimags of Mongolia
Mongolia is divided into 21 aimags . Each aimag is subdivided into several sums. The name aimag is derived from the Mongolian and Turkic languages word for "tribe". The modern aimags were established since 1921...
(provinces) of Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. The aimag was established in 1940. Its capital is Ölgii.
Geography
The aimag is located in the extreme west of the country, and shares borders with both RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The border between the two neighbouring countries is very short here, though, and ends after about 40 km at the eastern end of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
. Within Mongolia, the neighbouring aimags are Uvs
Uvs Province
Uvs is one of the 21 aimags of Mongolia. It is located in the west of the country, 1336 km away from the national capital Ulaanbaatar.Its capital is Ulaangom which lies 936m above the Sea level....
in the north east and Khovd in the south east..
Altay Mountains
The Altai Mountains are a mountain range in East-Central Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together, and where the rivers Irtysh and Ob have their sources. The Altai Mountains are known as the original locus of the speakers of Turkic as well as other members of the proposed...
, at the transition point to the Russian Altay. About 10% of the territory are covered by forests, consisting primarily of Siberian Larch
Siberian Larch
The Siberian Larch or Russian Larch is a frost-hardy tree native to western Russia, from close to the Finnish border east to the Yenisei valley in central Siberia, where it hybridises with the Dahurian Larch L...
.
The Nairamdal Peak
Nairamdal Peak
Friendship Peak is the one of five peaks of the Tavan Bogd mountain and it marks the border tripoint between Russia, Mongolia, and China. The Peak towers at the elevation of 4,180 m ....
(also Friendship Peak, Chinese: Youyi Feng) of the Altai Tavan Bogd (five saints mountain) massif mountain marks the corner between the three neighbouring countries. About 2.5 km further south on the Mongolian-Chinese border, the Hüiten Peak is the highest point of Mongolia with 4374 m. The massif includes several glaciers, such as the 19 km Potanin Glacier
Potanin Glacier
The Potanin Glacier is the longest glacier in Mongolia, its long about 14 kilometres and located through in the Altai Tavan Bogd mountain in Altai Mountains. The glacier is named after explorer Grigory Potanin....
, and is only accessible to experienced climbers with local guidance.
The Khovd River (the longest in the western Mongolian Great Lakes Depression
Great Lakes Depression
The Great Lakes Depression is a large semi-arid depression in Mongolia that covers parts of the Uvs, Khovd, Zavkhan and Govi-Altai aimags. Bounded by the Altai in the West, Khangai in the East and Tannu-Ola Mountains in the North,...
) has its origin in this aimag. It is fed by the three lakes Khoton, Khurgan, and Dayan, and in turn feeds the lake Khar-Us Lake in the Khovd Aimag. The Tolbo Lake is a large saline lake about 50 km south of the aimag capital. It features clear and cold water on an elevation of 2080 m.
Population
Kazakhs
The Kazakhs are a Turkic people of the northern parts of Central Asia ....
(88.7%). Smaller parts of the population are composed of Uriankhai
Altai Uriankhai
The Altai Uriankhai refer to a Mongolian tribe around the Altai Mountains that were organized by the Qing Dynasty. They now form a subgroup in western Mongolia and eastern Xinjiang....
(7.2%), Dörvöd (1.5%), Khalkha
Khalkha
Khalkha is the largest subgroup of Mongol people in Mongolia since 15th century. The Khalkha together with Tsahar, Ordos and Tumed, were directly ruled by the Altan Urag Khans until the 20th century; unlike the Oirat people who were ruled by the Dzungar nobles or the Khorchins who were ruled by...
, Tuva
Tuva
The Tyva Republic , or Tuva , is a federal subject of Russia . It lies in the geographical center of Asia, in southern Siberia. The republic borders with the Altai Republic, the Republic of Khakassia, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Irkutsk Oblast, and the Republic of Buryatia in Russia and with Mongolia to the...
and Khoshuud
Khoshuud
The Khoshut are one of the four major tribes of the Oirat people. Originally, Khoshuuds were one of the Khorchin tribes in southeastern Mongolia, but in mid 15th century they migrated to western Mongolia to become an ally of oirats to counter central Mongolian military power...
. A significant portion of the population speaks Kazakh
Kazakh language
Kazakh is a Turkic language which belongs to the Kipchak branch of the Turkic languages, closely related to Nogai and Karakalpak....
as their mother tongue and the Mongolian language
Mongolian language
The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
only as a second language, if at all.
After democratization, many inhabitants moved to their historical homeland, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, assuming they would find a better future there. The result was a noticeable loss of population in 1991-1993, when approx. 30,000 were repatriated to Kazakhstan. A noticeable number of former immigrants have been returning, so that the population has risen again noticeably.
| 1956 census |
1960 est. |
1963 census |
1969 census |
1975 est. |
1979 census |
1981 est. |
1985 est. |
1989 census |
1991 est. |
1993 est. |
1995 est. |
1998 est. |
2000 census |
2002 est. |
2004 est. |
2005 est. |
2008 est. |
2009 est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38,800 | 44,600 | 47,800 | 58,100 | 66,600 | 71,400 | 74,500 | 82,400 | 90,900 | 102,817 | 75,043 | 82,259 | 87,341 | 94,094 | 98,066 | 99,112 | 95,758 | 93,931 | 93,017 |
Culture
The culture of the Kazakh majority is strongly influenced by Islamic traditions.The mosque of Ölgii also houses the Islamic Center of Mongolia. It is placed at an unusual angle within the fabric of the city, because the building was oriented exactly towards Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. There's also a Madrasah (Islamic school) at the same place.
The aimag is famous for the traditional hunting method using trained eagles. The animals work in a similar way as hunting falcons do. While eagles are used for hunting in other parts of the world, this area is arguably the birth place of eagle falconry.
Traffic
The Ölgii AirportÖlgii Airport
Ölgii Airport is a public airport located in Ölgii, the capital of Bayan-Ölgii Province in Mongolia.- Airlines and Destinations:- External links :* Ölgii...
(ULG/ZMUL) has one unpaved runway. It offers regular flights to Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. An independent municipality, the city is not part of any province, and its population as of 2008 is over one million....
and irregular flights to Almaty
Almaty
Almaty , also known by its former names Verny and Alma-Ata , is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city, with a population of 1,348,500...
in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
.
A road connecting to Russia starts in Tsagaannuur.
The border with China is open only for a short time in the summer.
National parks
The Altai Tavan Bogd National ParkAltai Tavan Bogd National Park
Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is a national park in Bayan-Ölgii Province of western Mongolia.It covers 6362 square kilometres and is located south of Tavan Bogd, the highest mountain of Mongolia. It includes the lakes Khoton, Khurgan, and Dayan. The protected area is inhabited by species such as...
covers 6,362 km² and is located south of the highest mountain of Mongolia. It includes the lakes Khoton, Khurgan, and Dayan. The protected area offers a home for many species of alpine animal, such as the Argali
Argali
The argali, or the mountain sheep is a wild sheep, which roams the highlands of Central Asia . It is the biggest wild sheep, standing at the shoulder, measuring long and weighing , with a maximum known weight of...
sheep, Ibex, Red deer
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
, Beech marten
Beech Marten
The beech marten , also known as the stone marten or white breasted marten, is a species of marten native to much of Europe and Central Asia, though it has established a feral population in North America. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN on account of its wide distribution, its large...
, Moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
, Snow cock, and Golden eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
.
The Khökh Serkhiin Nuruu Protected Area (659 km²) and the Siilkhemiin Nuruu National Park (1,428 km²) are of similar character.
The Develiin Aral Natural Reserve (103 km²) is established around Develiin Island at the confluence of the rivers Lsan Khooloi and Khovd. Since 2000 it has provided protection for various birds and animals including pheasant
Pheasant
Pheasants refer to some members of the Phasianinae subfamily of Phasianidae in the order Galliformes.Pheasants are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails. Males are usually larger than females and have...
s, boar
Boar
Wild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...
s, and beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
s.
The Tsambagarav Uul National Park includes 1,115 km² of land around the glaciers near the Khovd aimag and protects the snow leopard
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
s living there, among others.
Administrative subdivisions
| Sum | Mongolian Mongolian language The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner... |
Sum population (1985) |
Sum population (1994) |
Sum population (2005) |
Sum population (2008) |
Sum population (2009) |
Sum centre population (2009) |
Area (km²) |
Density (/km²) |
Distance from Ölgii city(km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altai Altai, Bayan-Ölgii Altai is a town and sum of Bayan-Ölgii Province in western Mongolia.... |
3,400 | 3,237 | 3,914 | 3,659 | 3,811 | 973 | 3,163.56 | 1.20 | 112 | |
| Altantsögts Altantsögts Altantsögts is a sum of Bayan-Ölgii Province in western Mongolia. It is primarily inhabited by ethnic Kazakhs.... |
3,300 | 3,038 | 3,038 | 3,114 | 3,080 | 826 | 1,786.10 | 1.72 | 43 | |
| Bayannuur | 4,800 | 4,507 | 5,320 | 5,012 | 5,033 | 1,784 | 2,339.50 | 2.15 | 126 | |
| Bugat | 3,300 | 2,777 | 3,604 | 3,741 | 3,642 | 1,161 | 2,049.10 | 1.78 | 5 | |
| Bulgan Bulgan, Bayan-Ölgii Bulgan is a sum of Bayan-Ölgii Province in western Mongolia.... |
5,000 | 5,115 | 5,901 | 5,827 | 5,528 | 944 | 4,977.33 | 1.11 | 294 | |
| Buyant | 2,300 | 2,546 | 3,002 | 2,683 | 2,514 | 653 | 1,845.67 | 1.36 | 72 | |
| Delüün Delüün Delüün is a sum of Bayan-Ölgii Province in western Mongolia. It is primarily inhabited by ethnic Kazakhs.... |
6,600 | 6,782 | 8,183 | 7,078 | 7,133 | 1,642 | 5,594.99 | 1.27 | 158 | |
| Nogoonnuur Nogoonnuur Nogoonnuur is a sum of Bayan-Ölgii Province in western Mongolia. It is primarily inhabited by ethnic Kazakhs.... |
7,500 * | 6,331 | 6,539 | 6,566 | 6,375 | 2,165 | 5,221.94 * | 1.22 * | 92 | |
| Ölgii (city) | 24,000 | 21,569 | 28,248 | 28,496 | 28,448 | 28,448 | 100.92 | 281.89 | 0 | |
| Sagsai | 4,100 | 3,746 | 5,185 | 5,174 | 5,089 | 1,375 | 3,139.99 | 1.62 | 27 | |
| Tolbo Tolbo Tolbo is a sum of Bayan-Ölgii Province in western Mongolia. It is primarily inhabited by ethnic Kazakhs.... |
4,100 | 3,746 | 4,260 | 4,076 | 4,136 | 1,067 | 2,974.69 | 1.39 | 76 | |
| Tsagaannuur | ||||||||||
| 1,878 | 1,528 | 1,452 | 1,473 | 1,473 | ||||||
| 69 | ||||||||||
| Tsengel | 6,700 | 6,539 | 8,364 | 8,305 | 8,348 | 2,028 | 6,463.17 | 1.29 | 79 | |
| Ulaankhus Ulaankhus Ulaankhus ) is a sum of Bayan-Ölgii Province in western Mongolia. It is primarily inhabited by ethnic Kazakhs.... |
7,300 | 6,807 | 8,672 | 8,748 | 8,407 | 1,480 | 6,047.93 | 1.39 | 46 | |
* - Tsagaannuur including