Bayan-Ölgii Province Explained

Bayan-Ölgii Province
Native Name:Баян-Өлгий аймаг
Native Name Lang:mn
Settlement Type:Province
Coordinates:48.3°N 119°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Mongolia
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1939
Seat Type:Capital
Seat:Ölgii
Leader Title:Governor
Leader Name:A. Kameliyat[1]
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:45704.89
Elevation M:1710
Population Total:108530
Population As Of:2020
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type2:GDP
Demographics2 Footnotes:[2]
Demographics2 Title1:Total
Demographics2 Info1:MNT 659 billion
US$ 0.2 billion (2022)
Demographics2 Title2:Per capita
Demographics2 Info2:MNT 6,035,000
US$ 1,932 (2022)
Timezone1:UTC+7
Area Code:+976 (0)142
Registration Plate:БӨ_
Iso Code:MN-071

Bayan-Ölgii (Mongolian: Баян-Өлгий, in Mongolian pronounced as /ˈpajə̆ɴ ɵɮˈɟi/; Kalmyk; Oirat: Байн-Өлгий, in Mongolian pronounced as /ˈb̥ajə̆n ølˈɡiː/; Kazakh: Бай-Өлке / Bai-Ölke / {{script/Arabic|باي-ولكە, in Kazakh pronounced as /ˌb̥aj‿ɵlˈke/; "Rich region") is the westernmost of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia. The country's only Muslim and Kazakh-majority aimag, it was established in August 1940. Its capital is Ölgii.

Geography

The aimag is located in the extreme west of the country, and shares borders with both Russia and China. The border between the two neighbouring countries is very short here, though, and ends after about 40 km at the eastern end of Kazakhstan. Within Mongolia, the neighbouring aimags are Uvs in the north east and Khovd in the south east.Bayan-Ölgii is the highest Mongolian aimag. For the most part it is located in the Mongolian Altay, at the transition point to the Russian Altay. About 10% of the territory is covered by forests, consisting primarily of Siberian Larch.

The Nairamdal Peak (also Friendship Peak, Chinese: Youyi Feng) of the Altai Tavan Bogd (five saints mountain) massif mountain marks the corner between the three neighbouring countries. About 2.5 km further south on the Mongolian-Chinese border, the Khüiten Peak is the highest point of Mongolia at a height of 4,374 m. The massif includes several glaciers, such as the 19 km Potanin Glacier, and is only accessible to experienced climbers with local guidance.

The Khovd River (the longest in the western Mongolian Great Lakes Depression) has its origin in this aimag. It is fed by the three lakes Khoton, Khurgan, and Dayan, and in turn feeds the lake Khar-Us in the Khovd Aimag. The Tolbo Lake is a large saline lake about 50 km south of the aimag capital. It features clear and cold water on an elevation of 2,080 m.

Population

Most inhabitants of Bayan-Ölgii are Kazakhs (93%).[3] The rest of the population is composed of Uriankhai, Dörvöd,[4] Khalkha, Tsengel Tuvans, and Khoshuud. A significant portion of the population speaks Kazakh as their mother tongue and the Mongolian language only as a second language, if at all.

After democratization, many inhabitants moved to their historical homeland, Kazakhstan, assuming they would find a better future there. The result was a noticeable loss of population in 1991–1993, when approximately 80 thousand repatriated to Kazakhstan. A noticeable number of former immigrants have been returning, so that the population has risen again.

Culture

The culture of the Kazakh majority is strongly influenced by Islamic traditions. The mosque of Ölgii also houses the Islamic Center of Mongolia. It is placed at an unusual angle within the fabric of the city, because the building was oriented exactly towards Mecca. There is also a madrasah (Islamic school) at the same place.

The aimag is famous for the traditional practice of hunting with trained eagles.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] The captive eagles work in a similar way as hunting falcons do. While eagles are used for hunting in other parts of the world, particularly Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the practice is most common in Bayan-Ölgii, where an estimated 80 percent of the world's eagle hunters live.[16] The annual Golden Eagle Festival is held in Ölgii every October to display the skill of eagle hunters, with about 70 hunters participating per year.[17] [18]

Traffic

The Ölgii Airport (ULG/ZMUL) has one runway, unpaved until 2011. It offers regular flights to Ulaanbaatar and irregular flights to Ulaangom and Mörön in Mongolia and Almaty in Kazakhstan.

A road connecting to Russia starts in Tsagaannuur.

The border with China is open only for a short time in the summer.

National parks

The Altai Tavan Bogd National Park covers 6,362 km² and is located south of the highest mountain of Mongolia. It includes the lakes Khoton, Khurgan, and Dayan. The protected area offers a home for many species of alpine animal, such as the Argali sheep, Ibex, Red deer, Beech marten, Moose, Snow cock, and Golden eagle.

The Khökh Serkhiin Nuruu Protected Area (659 km²) and the Siilkhemiin Nuruu National Park (1,428 km²) are of similar character.

The Develiin Aral Natural Reserve (103 km²) is established around Develiin Island at the confluence of the rivers Lsan Khooloi and Khovd. Since 2000 it has provided protection for various birds and animals including pheasants, boars, and beavers.

The Tsambagarav Uul National Park includes 1,115 km² of land around the glaciers near the Khovd aimag and protects the snow leopards living there, among others.

Administrative subdivisions

The Sums of Bayan-Ölgii aimag
SumMongolianSum
population
(1985)
Sum
population
(1994)[19]
Sum
population
(2005)
Sum
population
(2008)
Sum
population
(2009)[20]
Sum
centre
population
(2009)
Area
(km²)[21]
Density
(/km²)
Distance
from
Ölgii
city(km)
Mongolian: Алтай3,400 3,237 3,9143,6593,8119733,163.56 1.20 112
Mongolian: Алтанцөгц3,300 3,038 3,0383,1143,0808261,786.10 1.7243
Mongolian: Баяннуур4,800 4,507 5,3205,0125,0331,7842,339.50 2.15126
Mongolian: Бугат3,300 2,777 3,6043,7413,6421,1612,049.10 1.786
Mongolian: Булган5,000 5,115 5,9015,8275,5289444,977.33 1.11294
Mongolian: Буянт2,300 2,546 3,0022,6832,5146531,845.671.3672
Mongolian: Дэлүүн6,600 6,782 8,1837,0787,1331,6425,594.99 1.27158
Mongolian: Ногооннуур7,500 *6,331 6,5396,5666,3752,1655,221.94 *1.22 *92
Mongolian: Өлгий24,000 21,569 28,24828,49628,44828,448100.92 281.890
Mongolian: Сагсай4,100 3,746 5,1855,1745,0891,3753,139.99 1.6227
Mongolian: Толбо4,100 3,746 4,2604,0764,1361,0672,974.69 1.3976
Mongolian: Цагааннуур- 1,878 1,5281,4521,4731,473- -69
Mongolian: Цэнгэл6,700 6,539 8,3648,3058,3482,0286,463.17 1.2979
Mongolian: Улаанхус7,300 6,807 8,6728,7488,4071,4806,047.93 1.3946

Governors

First secretaries

  1. Şymşyrūly Noğai (Kazakh: Шымшырұлы Ноғай; 1940–1942)
  2. Düzelbaiūly Jeñıshan (Kazakh: Дүзелбайұлы Жеңісхан; 1942)
  3. Ş. Vançinhű Arslan (Mongolian: Ш. Ванчинхүү арслан; 1943)
  4. Mälıkūly Qaşqynbai (Kazakh: Мәлікұлы Қашқынбай; 1943–1952)
  5. Mūhamädiūly Qūrmanhan (Kazakh: Мұхамәдиұлы Құрманхан; 1952–1953)
  6. Juanğanūly Rym (Kazakh: Жуанғанұлы Рым; 1953–1954)
  7. Mälıkūly Qaşqynbai (Kazakh: Мәлікұлы Қашқынбай; 1954–1957)
  8. Qamatjanūly Mūsahan (Kazakh: Қаматжанұлы Мұсахан; 1958–1962)
  9. B. Dulamragçá (Mongolian: Б. Дуламрагчаа; 1962–1966)
  10. B. Dejid (Mongolian: Б.Дэжид; 1966–1970)
  11. Ya Jigjid (Mongolian: Я. Жигжид; 1970–1976)
  12. L. Hürlé (Mongolian: Л. Хүрлээ; 1976–1980)
  13. Baitazaūly Qūrmetbek (Kazakh: Байтазаұлы Құрметбек; 1980–1999)

Chairmen of executive committee

  1. Bäjıūly Qabi (Kazakh: Бәжіұлы Қаби; 1940–1942)
  2. A. Begzjav (Mongolian: А. Бэгзжав; 1942–1943)
  3. Düzelbaiūly Jeñıshan (Kazakh: Дүзелбайұлы Жеңісхан; 1943–1950)
  4. Mūhamädiūly Qūrmanham (Kazakh: Мұхамәдиұлы Құрманхан; 1950–1952)
  5. Ç. Şagdar (Mongolian: Ч. Шагдар; 1952–1953)
  6. Mūhamädiūly Qūrmanham (Kazakh: Мұхамәдиұлы Құрманхан; 1954–1955)
  7. Şäbıūly Qabdyl (Kazakh: Шәбіұлы Қабдыл; 1955–1958)
  8. Juanğanūly Rym (Kazakh: Жуанғанұлы Рым; 1959–1970)
  9. Asqanbaiūly Sarai (Kazakh: Асқанбайұлы Сарай; 1970–1978)
  10. Qūsbekūly Qyzyrhan (Kazakh: Құсбекұлы Қызырхан; 1978–1989)
  11. T. Davájav (Mongolian: Т. Даваажав; 1989–1990)

After 1991

  1. Küntuğanūly Mizamhan (Kazakh: Күнтуғанұлы Мизамхан; 1990–1996)
  2. Qadyrūly Meiram (Kazakh: Қадырұлы Мейрам; 1996–2000)
  3. Qabdysılämūly Bädelhan (Kazakh: Қабдысіләмұлы Бәделхан; 2000–2004)
  4. Omarūly Ğabsattar (Kazakh: Омарұлы Ғабсаттар; 2004–2007)
  5. Säkeiūly Qabyl (Kazakh: Сәкейұлы Қабыл; 2007–2012)
  6. Qūzkeiūly Därmen (Kazakh: Құзкейұлы Дәрмен; 2012–2016)
  7. Aiypūly Ğylymhan (Kazakh: Айыпұлы Ғылымхан; 2016–2020)
  8. Dalelūly Bauyrjan (Kazakh: Далелұлы Бауыржан; 2020-2023)
  9. Ahmediaūly Kameliat (Kazakh: Ахмедияұлы Камелият; 2023-present)

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://bayan-olgii.gov.mn/governor/
  2. Web site: GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, by region, aimags and the Capital. 2023-12-06. Mongolian Statistical Information Service. www.1212.mn.
  3. Web site: Танилцуулга | Баян-Өлгий аймаг . 2016-01-20 . 2015-12-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151216165435/http://www.bayan-olgii.gov.mn/pages/introduction . dead .
  4. Web site: Баян-Өлгий. zasag.mn. 9 April 2023.
  5. Web site: Mongolia Provinces. www.statoids.com. May 18, 2021.
  6. Web site: Statistics office of Bayan-Ölgii aimag . 2007-03-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070623000420/http://202.131.5.91/webs/aimags/02/stat_hun_am.htm . 2007-06-23 . dead .
  7. Web site: МОНГОЛ УЛСЫН ҮНДЭСНИЙ СТАТИСТИКИЙН ХОРОО. https://web.archive.org/web/20070607183346/http://www.nso.mn/mdg/eng_index.htm. dead. Jun 7, 2007. www.nso.mn. May 18, 2021.
  8. National Economy of the Mongolian People's Republic (1921–1981), Ulaanbaatar 1981
  9. Web site: None. 9 April 2023.
  10. Web site: Archived copy . 2009-01-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722220135/http://www.statis.mn/portal/content_files/comppmedia/cdoc0x184.doc . 2011-07-22 . dead .
  11. Soma, Takuya. 2012. ‘Contemporary Falconry in Altai-Kazakh in Western Mongolia’The International Journal of Intangible Heritage (vol.7), pp. 103–111. http://www.ijih.org/volumeMgr.ijih?cmd=volumeView&volNo=7&manuType=02
  12. Soma, Takuya. 2012. ‘The Art of Horse-Riding Falconry by Altai-Kazakh Falconers’. In HERITAGE 2012 (vol.2): Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development, edited by R. Amoêda, S. Lira, & C. Pinheiro, pp. 1499–1506. Porto: Green Line Institute for Sustainable Development, .
  13. Soma, Takuya. 2012. ‘Horse-Riding Falconry in Altai-Kazakh Nomadic Society: Anthropological Researches in Summertime Activities of Falconers and Golden Eagle’. Japanese Journal of Human and Animal Relation 32: pp. 38–47.
  14. Soma, Takuya. 2013. ‘Hunting Arts of Eagle Falconers in the Altai-Kazakhs: Contemporary Operations of Horse-Riding Falconry in Sagsai County, Western Mongolia’. Japanese Journal of Human and Animal Relation 35: pp. 58–66.
  15. Soma, Takuya. 2013. ‘Ethnographic Study of Altaic Kazakh Falconers’, Falco: The Newsletter of the Middle East Falcon Research Group 41, pp. 10–14. 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20151017084620/http://www.mefrg.org/images/falco/falco41.pdf
  16. Web site: Eagle Hunters. Dec 28, 2012. May 18, 2021.
  17. Web site: Home Page. www.touristinfocenter.mn. May 18, 2021.
  18. Soma, Takuya & Battulga, Sukhee. 2014. 'Altai Kazakh Falconry as Heritage Tourism: “The Golden Eagle Festival” of Western Mongolia', "The International Journal of Intangible Heritage vol. 9", edited by Alissandra Cummins, pp. 135–148. Seoul: The National Folk Museum of Korea. http://www.ijih.org/volumeMgr.ijih?cmd=volumeView&volNo=9&manuType=02
  19. Web site: Archived copy . www.reliefweb.int . 30 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20051103221824/http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/oxfamannex1-4.pdf . 3 November 2005 . dead.
  20. http://www.statis.mn/portal/content_files/comppmedia/cdoc0x1526.doc Bayan-Ölgii Aimag Statistical Office. Annual Report 2009 (prelim.)
  21. Web site: Bayan-Ölgii Aimag Annual Statistical Report 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20110722221251/http://www.statis.mn/portal/content_files/comppmedia/cpdf0x365.pdf. dead. 22 July 2011. 9 April 2023.