Alag-Erdene, Khövsgöl Explained

Alag-Erdene District
Native Name:Алаг-Эрдэнэ сум
Native Name Lang:mn
Settlement Type:District
Pushpin Map:Mongolia
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Mongolia
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Mongolia
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Khövsgöl Province
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2005
Population Total:2992
Coordinates:50.1172°N 100.0458°W

Alag-Erdene (Mongolian: Алаг-Эрдэнэ|translation=variegated gem) is a sum (district) of Khövsgöl aimag (province). The area is about 4,500 km², of which 1,460 km² are forest, and 2,760 km² are pasture. In 2005, the sum had 2992 inhabitants, including some Darkhad, Khotogoid, and Uriankhai. The center, officially named Mankhan (Mongolian: Манхан) is situated close to the road from Mörön to Khatgal, 62 km north of Mörön and 733 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar.

History

The Alag-Erdene sum was founded, together with the whole Khövsgöl aimag, in 1931. In 1933, it had about 3,400 inhabitants in 1006 households, and about 82,000 heads of livestock. In 1942, two bags were transferred to Renchinlkhümbe, in 1952 two other bags became part of Tünel sum. In 1956, three bags were transferred from Büren sum, together with the Khögjil negdel.

Economy

In 2004, there were roughly 76,000 heads of livestock, among them 26,000 sheep, 36,000 goats, 11,500 cattle and yaks, 6,400 horses, and 33 camels.[1] During the 1980s, Soviet geologists conducted large-scale exploration projects for phosphorite in the area, but these projects were discontinued in the early 1990s, due to both the general political/economic situation after the end of socialism, and the discontent of the local population. Other commodities include black coal, graphite, and quartz

Miscellaneous

Lake Khövsgöl borders the sum to the north. Erkhel nuur was the site of an avian influenza outbreak in 2005.

Literature

M.Nyamaa, Khövsgöl aimgiin lavlakh toli, Ulaanbaatar 2001, p. 14f

References

50.1172°N 100.0458°W

Notes and References

  1. http://202.131.5.91/mal_tool/livestock2004.pdf National Statistical Office: Livestock count 2004 (in Mongolian), p.111