Bayanhongor Province
Encyclopedia
Bayankhongor is one of the 21 aimags
(provinces) of Mongolia
. It is located in the southwest of the country, and at 116,000 square kilometers it is one of the largest aimags. The capital of the aimag shares its name of Bayankhongor
.
In April of 1976, Bayankhongor was awarded the outstanding Red award for livestock, meat, and wool production. The aimag had substantial investment from the former USSR including infrastructure and education. However, the USSR also systematically destroyed the religion and heritage of the aimag, purging famous monasteries such as the Geegin Monastery and killing thousands of monks.
The zud
, or great storm, of the early 2000s devastated Bayankhongor’s livestock and therefore economy. The zud also forced social change in the aimag since fewer people now rely on herding as a major source of income and more people have moved to the aimag capital in search of work. Out of the total aimag population estimated at 80,000, somewhere between 25-35,000 people live in the capital city.
in the south.
Bayankhongor contains two mountain ranges, the Khangai Mountains in the north and the Gobian Altai Mountains
in the central region. Ikh Bogd, the aimag’s tallest mountain at 3957 meters, is part of the Gobian Altai range and is located outside of Bogd
sum.
The largest lakes in Bayankhongor are Orog Nuur and Böön Tsagaan Nuur, which are found in the central semi-desert region of the aimag (Lakes Valley between Khangai and Gobian Altai ranges), as are several other lakes. Due to the surrounding mountain areas the lakes in Lakes valley have no drainage and are therefore salty.
Khangai in the north contains several hot and cold mineral springs. Shargaljuut
, a town about 54 km north of the aimag capital, boasts over 300 springs and has developed a popular resort to take advantage of this natural feature. The mineral waters of the various springs are used by the local people to treat a variety of ailments. Furthermore, there are a handful of genuine oases in the south of the province, most of which are in the Shinejinst area. The most famous oasis, Ekhiin-Gol, was once home to the Lama Dambijant or Ja Lama
, an early 20th-century revolutionary turned bandit.
, long-eared jerboa
, Mongolian wild ass
, and wild Bactrian camels are rapidly diminishing. The Gobi bear
population is estimated at less than 50 animals. On the other hand, Bayankhongor residents have been heard to say that the aimag has the most marmot
s out of any aimag. The middle salt lake depression plane, particularly areas like Boon Tsaagan Nuur and Orog Nuur are excellent birding areas with endangered birds such as the Dalmatian Pelican
and Relict Gull
. Both these lakes are protected through the World Ramsar Convention for Wildlife Diversity. Domesticated animals in Bayakhongor include Bactrain Camels, sheep, goats, yaks, cows, and a yak-cow hybrid called a khainag
.
Rule, and religious exhibits including a pair of famous Green and White Tara
statues, the Jadamba Sutras, and shaman robes. The Museum of Natural History contains various mineral specimens for the aimag such as marble and volcanic rock, as well as various stuffed endemic animals. The highlights of the museum are the complete skeleton of a Tarbosaurus
dinosaur and a 130 million year old fossil of a turtle discovered in the Bugiin Tsav (Bugiin Ravine) in the Gobi Desert.
There are also many protected areas in Bayankhongor (see above).
There are two monasteries in the aimag capital, Bayankhongor
. The entire town surrounds a sacred hill on which it is forbidden to build. Atop the hill sits a giant stupa
of some significance, and there is a small monastery with about 10 resident monks at the base of the hill. The other, larger monastery is called Lamyn Gegeenii Gon Gandan Dedlin Khiid, and was built in 1991. The original monastery by this name was located about 30km outside of the city and was home to over 10,000 monks and lamas making it one of the largest and most prominent monasteries in the county. However, the buildings were demolished and the monks killed or forced to renounce their vows by the communist government in 1937. The current monastery is home to about 50 monks, and features a giant statue of Sakyamuni Buddha and Two Green and White Tara
statues modeled after the two in the History and Ethnographical Museum of Bayankhongor.
Amarbuyant Khiid, located 50 km west of Shinejist, once housed the 13th Dalai Lama and over 1000 monks. His holiness the 13th Dalai Lama stayed there for 10 days in 1904 during a journey from Lhasa
to Urga
. While visiting he build a small ovoo
which remains among the ruins of the monastery, which was destroyed along with Gegeen Monastery in 1937 during the communist purges. The gradual restoration process of the complex began in the 1990’s after the communist regime fell.
aimag. In it live many endangered species such as the Gobi Bear and the Zam Gecko. The second area is the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
, which is known for its extensive fossil sites, iconic sand dunes, ice canyon, and stunning mountain scenery not to mention the over 200 bird species and 600 types of plants. Both of these areas are popular tourist destinations both for foreigners and Mongolians.
The nearby site of Tsagaan Bulag (White Stream) was perhaps another holy site for these ancient men. On a white outcrop the faint drawings of figures are still visible. These figures, although human-like, bear unusual features such as massive ears and misshaped hands. No one knows the origin of these drawings, but some locals believe they were created by aliens.
Bayangiin Nuruu (roughly translated as Rich Mountainside) is another site with well preserved stone engravings from approximately 3000BCE. Although not nearly as ancient as other sites, Bayangiin Nuruu’s drawings are extensive and well preserved, depicting scenes from daily life.
Dinosaur fossils are also found in the ravines and valleys of southeastern Bayankhongor. Famous sites include Bugiin Tsav, Yasnee Tsav, and Khermen Tsav.
(BVN/ZMBH) has two runways, and is served by two or three weekly flights to and from Ulan Bator that vary from season to season. There are also daily buses to and from Ulan Bator (departing from Dragon Center in Ulaanbaatar at 8am) which stop in the town of Arvaikheer, as well as less regular buses west towards Gobi-Altai and Khovd
aimags. Travel to soums is possible by mikrobuses which gather in the open market in the south of the aimag capital.
* - The aimag capital Bayankhongor
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...
. It is located in the southwest of the country, and at 116,000 square kilometers it is one of the largest aimags. The capital of the aimag shares its name of Bayankhongor
Bayankhongor
- Transportation :The Bayankhongor Airport has two runways, one of them paved, and is served by regular flights to Ulan Bator....
.
History
Bayankhongor aimag was formed in 1941 with the establishment of the Bayankhongor Citizen's Assembly. There were originally 16 Bayankhongor Area Soums and about 41 thousand people in the aimag. The aimag was originally named Govi-Bumbugur, however it was soon changed to Bayankhongor.In April of 1976, Bayankhongor was awarded the outstanding Red award for livestock, meat, and wool production. The aimag had substantial investment from the former USSR including infrastructure and education. However, the USSR also systematically destroyed the religion and heritage of the aimag, purging famous monasteries such as the Geegin Monastery and killing thousands of monks.
The zud
Zud
A zud or dzud is a Mongolian term for an extremely snowy winter in which livestock are unable to find fodder through the snow cover, and large numbers of animals die due to starvation and the cold. The term is also used for other meteorological conditions, especially in winter, that make livestock...
, or great storm, of the early 2000s devastated Bayankhongor’s livestock and therefore economy. The zud also forced social change in the aimag since fewer people now rely on herding as a major source of income and more people have moved to the aimag capital in search of work. Out of the total aimag population estimated at 80,000, somewhere between 25-35,000 people live in the capital city.
Geography
The Bayankhongor aimag includes very diverse geographic areas. It is typically divided into three areas: the mountainous and wooded Khangai in the north, the central steppe region, and the arid Gobi DesertGobi Desert
The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the...
in the south.
Bayankhongor contains two mountain ranges, the Khangai Mountains in the north and the Gobian Altai Mountains
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...
in the central region. Ikh Bogd, the aimag’s tallest mountain at 3957 meters, is part of the Gobian Altai range and is located outside of Bogd
Bogd, Bayankhongor
Bogd is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in south-western Mongolia....
sum.
The largest lakes in Bayankhongor are Orog Nuur and Böön Tsagaan Nuur, which are found in the central semi-desert region of the aimag (Lakes Valley between Khangai and Gobian Altai ranges), as are several other lakes. Due to the surrounding mountain areas the lakes in Lakes valley have no drainage and are therefore salty.
Khangai in the north contains several hot and cold mineral springs. Shargaljuut
Shargaljuut, Bayankhongor
Shargaljuut is an urban-type settlement geographically located in the Erdenetsogt sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia...
, a town about 54 km north of the aimag capital, boasts over 300 springs and has developed a popular resort to take advantage of this natural feature. The mineral waters of the various springs are used by the local people to treat a variety of ailments. Furthermore, there are a handful of genuine oases in the south of the province, most of which are in the Shinejinst area. The most famous oasis, Ekhiin-Gol, was once home to the Lama Dambijant or Ja Lama
Ja Lama
Ja Lama ) was an adventurer of unknown birth and background who posed as a Buddhist lama, though it is not clear whether he actually was one. He claimed to be a grandson and later the reincarnation of Amursana, the Khoit-Oirat prince who led the Dzungar Khanate to its extermination in 1757...
, an early 20th-century revolutionary turned bandit.
Wildlife
Bayankhongor aimag boasts a diverse wildlife population, although, unfortunately, many of them are endangered. Despite protected areas in the aimag, the populations of animals such as the snow leopardSnow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
, long-eared jerboa
Long-eared Jerboa
The Long-eared Jerboa, Euchoreutes naso, is a nocturnal mouse-like rodent with a long tail, long hind legs for jumping, and exceptionally large ears...
, Mongolian wild ass
Mongolian Wild Ass
The Mongolian Wild Ass is a subspecies of the Onager. It may be synonymous with the Gobi Kulan, Chigetai or Dziggetai...
, and wild Bactrian camels are rapidly diminishing. The Gobi bear
Gobi Bear
The Gobi bear is a subspecies of the brown bear, Ursus arctos, found in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. At present they are listed as "very rare" in the Mongolian Red Book, and may represent a threatened subspecies, as the small population of Gobi bears makes them vulnerable to outside threats...
population is estimated at less than 50 animals. On the other hand, Bayankhongor residents have been heard to say that the aimag has the most marmot
Marmot
The marmots are a genus, Marmota, of squirrels. There are 14 species in this genus.Marmots are generally large ground squirrels. Those most often referred to as marmots tend to live in mountainous areas such as the Alps, northern Apennines, Eurasian steppes, Carpathians, Tatras, and Pyrenees in...
s out of any aimag. The middle salt lake depression plane, particularly areas like Boon Tsaagan Nuur and Orog Nuur are excellent birding areas with endangered birds such as the Dalmatian Pelican
Dalmatian Pelican
The Dalmatian Pelican is a member of the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe to India and China in swamps and shallow lakes. The nest is a crude heap of vegetation....
and Relict Gull
Relict Gull
The Relict Gull, Ichthyaetus relictus, is a medium-sized gull. It was believed to be an eastern race of the Mediterranean Gull until 1971 and was traditionally placed in the genus Larus.-Description:...
. Both these lakes are protected through the World Ramsar Convention for Wildlife Diversity. Domesticated animals in Bayakhongor include Bactrain Camels, sheep, goats, yaks, cows, and a yak-cow hybrid called a khainag
Dzo
A dzo is a hybrid of yak and domestic cattle. The word dzo technically refers to a male hybrid, while a female is known as a dzomo or zhom. Alternative Romanizations of the Tibetan names include zho and zo. In Mongolian it is called khainag...
.
Attractions
The attractions of Bayankhongor vary from the natural (Gobi Bears) to the manmade (Chess Stones of Erdentsogt), from the old (stone drawings in Bayan Lig) to the older (dinosaur bones in Bugiin Tsav). Since the aimag contains all three major geographic zones of Mongolia (forest, steppe, and desert) it is a great place to commune with nature.Museums
There are two museums in the aimag capital, a History and Ethnographical Museum and a Museum of Natural History. The History and Ethnographical Museum contains exhibits from traditional nomadic life such as information on weddings, ger life, and traditional clothes. It also has some interesting artifacts from Bayankhongor during ManchuManchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
Rule, and religious exhibits including a pair of famous Green and White Tara
Tara (Buddhism)
Tara or Ārya Tārā, also known as Jetsun Dolma in Tibetan Buddhism, is a female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism who appears as a female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is known as the "mother of liberation", and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements...
statues, the Jadamba Sutras, and shaman robes. The Museum of Natural History contains various mineral specimens for the aimag such as marble and volcanic rock, as well as various stuffed endemic animals. The highlights of the museum are the complete skeleton of a Tarbosaurus
Tarbosaurus
Tarbosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur that flourished in Asia about 70 million years ago, at the end of the Late Cretaceous Period. Fossils have been recovered in Mongolia, with more fragmentary remains found further afield in parts of China. Although many species have been...
dinosaur and a 130 million year old fossil of a turtle discovered in the Bugiin Tsav (Bugiin Ravine) in the Gobi Desert.
Parks
The aimag capital has a few parks, namely the Dinosaur Park and the Children’s Park. The Dinosaur Park consists of models of the many dinosaur species found in the south of the province. There is also a model ger open to visitors. The Children’s Park, despite the name, is a nature park with scenic paths ways and endemic trees and plants. The Tuil Gol (gol meaning river in Mongolian) running alongside the town makes for excellent picnic grounds, and Ikh Nomgun Mountain serves as a somewhat challenging day climb.There are also many protected areas in Bayankhongor (see above).
Monasteries
Although the famous monasteries of Bayankhongor were all destroyed during the Soviet purges, since Mongolia’s independence in 1990, there has been a flurry of rebuilding and reconnecting with the area’s Buddhist heritage.There are two monasteries in the aimag capital, Bayankhongor
Bayankhongor
- Transportation :The Bayankhongor Airport has two runways, one of them paved, and is served by regular flights to Ulan Bator....
. The entire town surrounds a sacred hill on which it is forbidden to build. Atop the hill sits a giant stupa
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
of some significance, and there is a small monastery with about 10 resident monks at the base of the hill. The other, larger monastery is called Lamyn Gegeenii Gon Gandan Dedlin Khiid, and was built in 1991. The original monastery by this name was located about 30km outside of the city and was home to over 10,000 monks and lamas making it one of the largest and most prominent monasteries in the county. However, the buildings were demolished and the monks killed or forced to renounce their vows by the communist government in 1937. The current monastery is home to about 50 monks, and features a giant statue of Sakyamuni Buddha and Two Green and White Tara
Tara (Buddhism)
Tara or Ārya Tārā, also known as Jetsun Dolma in Tibetan Buddhism, is a female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism who appears as a female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is known as the "mother of liberation", and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements...
statues modeled after the two in the History and Ethnographical Museum of Bayankhongor.
Amarbuyant Khiid, located 50 km west of Shinejist, once housed the 13th Dalai Lama and over 1000 monks. His holiness the 13th Dalai Lama stayed there for 10 days in 1904 during a journey from Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
to Urga
Urga
Urga may refer to:* Ulan Bator, the capital of the republic of Mongolia* Ürgə, a municipality in Azerbaijan* Urga aka Close to Eden, a film by Nikita Mikhalkov, 1992...
. While visiting he build a small ovoo
Ovoo
An ovoo is a type of shamanistic cairn found in Mongolia, usually made from rocks or from wood. Ovoos are often found at the top of mountains and in high places, like mountain passes...
which remains among the ruins of the monastery, which was destroyed along with Gegeen Monastery in 1937 during the communist purges. The gradual restoration process of the complex began in the 1990’s after the communist regime fell.
Protected Areas
There are two protected areas in Bayankhongor. The Gobi A: Strictly Protected Areas in the south borders China and OmnogoviÖmnögovi
Ömnögovi may refer to:* Ömnögovi Province, an aimag of Mongolia* Ömnögovi, Uvs, a sum in Uvs Aimag of Mongolia...
aimag. In it live many endangered species such as the Gobi Bear and the Zam Gecko. The second area is the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
right|thumb|A [[yurt|ger]] with the [[Gurvan Saikhan Uul|Gurvan Saikhan Mountains]] behindGobi Gurvansaikhan National Park is a national park in southern Mongolia. The park was established in 1993, and expanded to its current size in 2000...
, which is known for its extensive fossil sites, iconic sand dunes, ice canyon, and stunning mountain scenery not to mention the over 200 bird species and 600 types of plants. Both of these areas are popular tourist destinations both for foreigners and Mongolians.
Stone Drawings and Fossils
Tsagaan Agui (White Cave) once housed Stone Age people approximately 700,000 years ago. According to researchers, its crystal-lined inner chamber was a holy site for these inhabitants.The nearby site of Tsagaan Bulag (White Stream) was perhaps another holy site for these ancient men. On a white outcrop the faint drawings of figures are still visible. These figures, although human-like, bear unusual features such as massive ears and misshaped hands. No one knows the origin of these drawings, but some locals believe they were created by aliens.
Bayangiin Nuruu (roughly translated as Rich Mountainside) is another site with well preserved stone engravings from approximately 3000BCE. Although not nearly as ancient as other sites, Bayangiin Nuruu’s drawings are extensive and well preserved, depicting scenes from daily life.
Dinosaur fossils are also found in the ravines and valleys of southeastern Bayankhongor. Famous sites include Bugiin Tsav, Yasnee Tsav, and Khermen Tsav.
Transportation
The Bayankhongor AirportBayankhongor Airport
Bayankhongor Airport is a public airport located in Bayankhongor, the capital of Bayankhongor Province in Mongolia.- Airlines :- External links :* Bayankhongor* Bayankhongor...
(BVN/ZMBH) has two runways, and is served by two or three weekly flights to and from Ulan Bator that vary from season to season. There are also daily buses to and from Ulan Bator (departing from Dragon Center in Ulaanbaatar at 8am) which stop in the town of Arvaikheer, as well as less regular buses west towards Gobi-Altai and Khovd
Khovd
Khovd can refer to:* Hovd River, a river in the west of Mongolia* Khovd , the capital of Khovd aimag* Hovd Territory, a historical area in Mongolia during the Qing Dynasty.* Khovd Province, an aimag in Mongolia...
aimags. Travel to soums is possible by mikrobuses which gather in the open market in the south of the aimag capital.
Administrative Subdivision
| 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... |
Population (end of 2000) |
Population (end of 2006) |
Sum center population (end of 2006) |
Area (km²) | Density (/km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baatsagaan Baatsagaan Baatsagaan is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Баацагаан | 4,526 | 3,568 | 422 | 7,447 | 0.48 |
| Bayan-Öndör Bayan-Öndör, Bayankhongor Bayan-Öndör is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Баян-Өндөр | 2,692 | 2,559 | 548 | 16,891 | 0.15 |
| Bayan-Ovoo Bayan-Ovoo, Bayankhongor Bayan-Ovoo is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Баян-Овоо | 3,043 | 2,912 | 731 | 3,244 | 0.90 |
| Bayanbulag Bayanbulag, Bayankhongor Bayanbulag is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Баянбулаг | 2,252 | 2,143 | 463 | 3,170 | 0.68 |
| Bayangovi | Баянговь | 2,903 | 2,703 | 628 | 4,662 | 0.58 |
| Bayankhongor Bayankhongor - Transportation :The Bayankhongor Airport has two runways, one of them paved, and is served by regular flights to Ulan Bator.... * |
Баянхонгор | 20,501 | 26,588 | 26,588 | 64 | 415.44 |
| Bayanlig Bayanlig Bayanlig is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Баянлиг | 3,842 | 3,316 | 805 | 11,918 | 0.28 |
| Bayantsagaan Bayantsagaan, Bayankhongor Bayantsagaan is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Баянцагаан | 3,946 | 3,599 | 634 | 5,395 | 0.67 |
| Bogd Bogd, Bayankhongor Bogd is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in south-western Mongolia.... |
Богд | 3,226 | 2,900 | 613 | 3,983 | 0.73 |
| Bömbögör | Бөмбөгөр | 2,755 | 2,584 | 656 | 3,044 | 0.85 |
| Buutsagaan Buutsagaan Buutsagaan is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Бууцагаан | 4,258 | 3,452 | 901 | 5,840 | 0.59 |
| Erdenetsogt Erdenetsogt Erdenetsogt is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Эрдэнэцогт | 5,158 | 4,235 | 933 | 4,100 | 1.03 |
| Galuut Galuut Galuut is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Галуут | 5,275 | 4,012 | 644 | 5,047 | 0.79 |
| Gurvanbulag Gurvanbulag, Bayankhongor Gurvanbulag is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Гурванбулаг | 2,915 | 2,594 | 350 | 4,442 | 0.58 |
| Jargalant Jargalant, Bayankhongor Jargalant, "Happy" is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Жаргалант | 4,374 | 3,173 | 697 | 4,175 | 0.76 |
| Jinst Jinst Jinst is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Жинст | 2,352 | 2,023 | 376 | 5,313 | 0.38 |
| Khüreemaral Khüreemaral Khüreemaral is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Хүрээмарал | 2,466 | 2,064 | 325 | 4,328 | 0.48 |
| Ölziit Ölziit, Bayankhongor Ölziit is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Өлзийт | 3,721 | 3,353 | 661 | 3,853 | 0.87 |
| Shinejinst Shinejinst Shinejinst is a sum of Bayankhongor Province in southern Mongolia.... |
Шинэжинст | 2,469 | 2,187 | 319 | 16,501 | 0.13 |
| Zag | Заг | 2,440 | 2,264 | 592 | 2,561 | 0.88 |
* - The aimag capital Bayankhongor