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Darkhan

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.