Month: January 2022

Zavkhan Province is located at the western part of Mongolia and borders with the Khovd and Uvs provinces in the west, the Tuva Republic of the Russian Federation in the north, the Khuvsgul and Arkhangai provinces in the east, and Bayankhongor and Govi-Altai provinces in the south respectively. It is one of five provinces that were established in 1923. Total territory is 82,500 km² and the distance of its capital city Uliastai from Ulaanbaatar is 1,104 km.

The capital is surrounded by many high mountains including the Otgontenger – the highest peak of Khangai Mountain range at 4,031m and its branch mountains such as Tarvagatai (3,227m), Khurimt, Tudevtei, Gurvan Khaltar, Gyalgar and Bulnai mountain (2,619m) in the east and by the branch mountains of the Tagnyn Tange in the north. The western part of the province contains steppes with river valleys, hills and hillocks. There is a wide valley containing the Ider, Zavkhan, Tes, Bogdyn and Khungyn rivers among the mountains.

In the western and south western parts are contained the Borkhyryn sand dunes that last for 100 to 200 kms. The area is rich in iron ore, tin, gold, copper, diamond, molybdenum, precious stones, alabaster, phosphates, ore, construction material resources and different chemical elements. Wild berries are abundant in the forests. The province has an extreme continental climate. The average temperature in January drops to -20 to 30⁰C and in July reaches 13 to 22⁰C. The lowest ever recorded temperature was ‑53⁰C which was also the lowest for the whole country (occurred in Tosontsengel). The average annual precipitation is 400 mm in the high mountain areas, 80-100 mm in the western parts and 200-260mm throughout the rest of the province.

The province has landscape of Gobi desert and Khangai Mountain. It has over 40 natural attractions with 189 rivers, 91 lakes and a variety of hot and cold springs. The province intends to better develop tourism opportunities and prospects.

Uvs Province is located in the west of Mongolia and in the lands of Great Lakes. The Province has a total border length of 1,267km.

The province share a border with Bayan-Ulgii Province in the west, Khovd Province in the south, Zavkhan Province in the east and the Russian Federation in the north.

The lowest altitude in the province is the Uvs Lake area at 758.9m above sea level while the highest point is Tsagaan Deglii Peak with an elevation of 4,250 m above sea level.

Many snow-capped mountains can be found in the region, with an elevation of between 2,400 to 4,126m. Sand dunes occupy 9,200 square meter kilometers. Lakes like Uvs, Khyargas, Achit, Uureg and Duruu, also large rivers such as Tes, Khovd, Kharkhiraa, Turgen, Khangiltsag , Turuun and Zavkhan, all contribute to the nature beauty of Uvs province.

Since it is located in the Great Lakes depression and branch mountains of the Altai range, the province has extreme weather conditions. Temperature reach +40 to 50⁰C during summer time and drops to -40 to 50⁰C during winter. It has a long winter time and mpre days with snow each year.

Uvs Province is one of few untouched areas of Mongolia. No significant geological studies, exploration or prospecting have been conducted in this area. However, this province is rich in mineral resources such as gold, silver, platinum, copper, coal, alabaster, rare metal, iron ore, graphite, gypsum, salt and saline.

With many wild and unexplored mountains, a unique nature landscape combined with Gobi desert and Khangai mountains, and traditions and customs of various ethnicity and historical and cultural places, the province has exceptional opportunity to develop tourism.

Khovd Province has immense area that embraces the Altai Mountain range and Mongolian Altai Mountains. The province has many large mountains like Munkh Khairkhan, Khukh Serkh Range, Baatar Khairkhan and Myangan Ugalzat, and 20 percent of the province territory is Gobi. In the mountainous areas sedimentary rocks from the early Cambrian period exist, while in the southern parts of the province sedimentary rocks from quaternary period are widely spread. The province is rich in natural and construction mineral materials such as coal (Khundlun), mica (Bodonch), crystal (Ooshigiin Us, Tsagaantolgoi). Big rivers like the Khovd, Buyant, Bulgan, Chonokharaikh, Tsenkher flow through the province. Small and large lakes such as Khar-Us, Khar, Durgun and Tsetseg, exist in this region. Also, there are many springs like Nevt, Bulgan and Indert.

Khovd Province has an extreme climate. Summer temperature can reach +40⁰C, while winter temperatures can drop down to -30⁰C. The high mountain region with rock cliffs is covered with alpine soil, while the northern part of the province is covered with white-brown soil and the southern part with Gobi gray soil. Many species of globally endangered animals inhabit this region including the wild ass, two humped wild camel and saiga antelope. Bulgan River and Khukh Serkh Mountain area are recorded as strictly protected areas.