City of Darkhan. General information. Sights.
ABOUT MONGOLIA
THE REGIONS OF MONGOLIA
DARKHAN
Darkhan is the second largest among four large cities of Mongolia.
Located 240 kilometers to the north of Ulaanbaatar, the city is a hub of
roads and railways in the heart of Selenge aimag.
Darkhan was founded in 1961 and is favorably located in terms of
geography and infrastructure and has a wealth of mineral and water resources.
The population is about 90 thousand.
Mongolians named the city "Friendship Darkhan", since six former socialist
countries, besides the Soviet Union of that time, took part in its erection.
With its thermo-electric power station, metallurgical plant, building
materials, ceramic sites, food manufacturers, meat processing factory and
coalmine, Darkhan is the largest industrial center of Mongolia.
Surrounded with iron-ore deposits, Darkhan has great potential prosperity for
development as the metallurgical center of Mongolia and is the city which has
the only metallurgical plant in Mongolia. The metallurgical plant of Darkhan is
marking its 15th anniversary this year. In this period, the personnel of the
plant produced MNT 248 billion worth of products, including iron wire, steel
reinforcement, steel conductors, etc. By acquiring a special license for the
Tomortei deposit in November 2007, the plant took the first step towards the
development of a metallurgical industrial complex in Mongolia.
Darkhan was built as the foundation for Mongolia’s major
industries, particularly construction materials. Beginning in 1962, Mongolian
and Soviet workers started the construction of Darkhan’s first industrial
facilities. The development of these industrial facilities was made possible
through technical and financial assistance from various former socialist
countries such as the Soviet Union, Hungary, Poland, and Czechoslovakia. There
is an industrial district in Darkhan that includes a cement factory, a steel
plant built in 1990 with Japanese assistance and a sheepskin-processing factory.
The food production industry is well developed and is comprised of a of meat
processing factory, flour mill, and small-scale producers of bakery products,
confectionery, dairy products, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. In recent
years, small and medium sized enterprises have been rapidly expanding. The
number of new businesses, which have opened in the last few years, is 732
companies. Darkhan has a Chamber of Commerce and Industry made up of 93 members.
Darkhan is situated in the agricultural heartland of
Mongolia. Darkhan Uul Aimag is the major agricultural producer in Mongolia with
rich resources for agricultural development. This area, located at a low level
of altitude, has a warmer climate than the rest of the country. In the Kharaa
River basin there are favorable natural climatic conditions for the cultivation
of cereals, vegetables, and especially potatoes. There are 35 agricultural
companies and co-operatives in Darkhan Uul Aimag. This area contains 30,000
hectares of soil suitable for arable farming and 1287.8 thousand hectares for
vegetable farming. Despite the development of the urban economy, local people
continue to keep livestock. There are approximately 130,000 head of livestock in
the province.
Darkhan is the second largest educational center in Mongolia,
making the educational level of the city’s population very high. Hundreds of
students come to Darkhan from other parts of Mongolia to study. This city is
also the venue of 12 higher schools and scientific institutes, including the
Medical College and branches of the Mongolian University of Science and
Technology, as well as the Agricultural University.
Currently in Darkhan Uul Aimag there are 25 secondary
schools, 14 kindergartens, the Institute of Management and Development, the
Regional Business Development Center and the Plant Science and Agricultural
Training Research Institute.
Tourists who visit Darkhan can expect to find fresh air, blue
skies, a quiet environment, and plenty of open space to enjoy many outdoor
activities, such as hunting and fishing. Places of interest accessible from
Darkhan City include Zulzagiin Gol, an area of natural beauty 30km to the east,
and Amarbayasgalant Khiid one of
the largest and most important monasteries in Mongolia approximately 3 hours
drive to the west.
PLACES TO VISITED.
- Kharagiin Khiid. Probably the most interesting sight in Darkhan is
the Kharagiin monastery. Housed in a pretty log cabin in the old town, it
has recently become very active. With a host of protector deities and a tree
encased in blue khatag silk scarves, the monastery has the feel of a
pilgrimage center.
- Museum of Darkhan-Uul. This museum, also named the Traditional
Museum of Folk Art. contains a well laid out collection of archaeological
findings, traditional clothing, religious artifacts and a few obligatory
stuffed animals.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION'S:
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