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Ulaangom town. Uvs aimag. Mongolia.

THE REGIONS OF MONGOLIA

UVS AIMAG.

ULAANGOM

Uvs province lies in the Great Lakes Depression in the northwestern region of Mongolia, adjoining the Russian border to the north, Zavkhan province to the east, Khovd province to the south and Bayan-Ulgii province to the west. Sixty percent of its area is “khangai” (hilly with a pleasant climate, fertile soil, forests, rivers and lakes); the other 40 percent encompasses the Gobi region.

One of the least visited of Mongolia's aimags, Uvs is a province of high mountains of Khankhukhii, Togtokh shil that are the extension of the Khangai mountain range. The Buurug sand, located in the territory of the province is the biggest sand dune of Mongolia. It occupies 4,000 sq. km. of the aimag's territory. Of berries there are wild cherry, cliff talus, black current, cowberry, strawberry, northern biiiberry, nitraria. Nitraria grow along the beaches of the Khyargas lake, species of strawberry are found on the banks of Tes river, and cynomorium, agriophylliurn grow in Zuungovi, Zavkhan somons. Wildlife is represented by antelope, black tailed antelope encountered in the meadows of Khyargas, Kharkhiraa, Uvs lakes; deer, boars, wild sheep, ibexes, snow leopards, martens, wolborines in the Khankhukhii, Kharkhiraa, Turgen mountains. Marmots, badgers, foxes, wolves are found mainly in mountains and valleys.

Ulaangom. Population 29,600. Elevation 939m. Ulaangom, which means 'red sand', is a pleasant, tree-lined town. It is a good place to hang around while you explore the countryside, or to plan a trip around western Mongolia: there are good shops, reasonable hotels and a fantastic market.

Like the other western aimag capitals, Ulaangom suffers from power shortages due to unpaid (and unpayable) debts to the nearest power station - across the border in Russia. The situation should improve with the building of the hydroelectric station in Bayan-Olgii.

The bronze statue in front of the city hall is of Yumjaagiyn Tsedenal, who ruled Mongolia for about 40 years until 1983, and was born in Ulaangom. Opposite the town square, another statue honors Givaan, a local hero who was killed in 1948 during clashes with Chinese troops.

Museum. This newly renovated museum has good displays on local wildlife and traditional life, with all the standard musical instruments, national costumes and Buddhist art, as well as an excellent shaman headdress, cloak and drum.

Dechinravjaalin Khiid. The original monastery was founded in 1757 by Lamaav, whose name means 'monk father'. At the height of its glory, the monastery contained seven small temples, and 2000 monks were in residence but it was pulverized in 1937. The current monastery is little more than a wall with two gers inside.