# Zavkhan Province

Zavkhan (/ˈzaʊxɑːn/; Mongolian: Завхан ᠵᠠᠪᠬᠠᠨ), also spelt Zaukhan or Zabhkhan, is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in the west of the country, 1,104 km from Ulaanbaatar. Its capital is Uliastai. The aimag is named after the Zavkhan River, which forms the border between Zavkhan and Gobi-Altai aimag.

## Environment

Locally, Zavkhan's environment is considered "Gobi-Khangai" (Говь хангай), since it connects the Gobi Desert in the south with the western Khangai Mountain Range and the broad lake basin of Khovd aimag.
The highest peak in the province is Otgontenger (Отгонтэнгэр, lit. "youngest sky") both the highest (4,031 m) and only peak in the Khangai range capped with a permanent glacier. The mountain is located in the 95,510 hectare Otgon Tenger Strictly Protected Area, about 60 km east of Uliastai. An image of the mountain can be seen on the aimag's coat of arms. Otgontenger is associated with the Bodhisattva Ochirvaani (Очирваань).
The western and south-western regions of Zavkhan contain the massive Bor Khyarin Els sand dunes that stretch for over 100 km within the Zavkhan, down into Gobi-Altai aimag. One of the largest lakes in Zavkhan, Bayan Nuur (баян нуур, "rich lake") is nestled among the dunes.

## Climate

Zavkhan has some of the coldest winter temperatures in Mongolia. It has even been known to snow in summer. In Tosontsengel, the largest sum in Zavkhan, winter temperatures as low as −52.9 °C (−63.2 °F) have been recorded. That sum also holds the record for the highest mean sea level barometric pressure ever recorded on Earth 1,085.7 hectopascals or 32.061 inches of mercury, measured on 19 December 2001.
Most precipitation falls in the summer months as rain, with some snow in the adjacent months of May and September. Winters are typically very dry.

## Wildlife

Aside from having massive livestock populations, Zavkhan's broad ecological regions and deep forests are home to a diverse population of wildlife: Gobi bears, Mongolian khulans, wild boars, spotted deers, argali, wild goats, ibexes, Mongolian wolves, Corsac foxes, marmots, mongooses, Eurasian lynxes, hares, and both Mongolian and goitered gazelle.
Many forest, mountain and migratory birds can be found in the aimag, including rare snowcocks and bobwhites, as well as swans, vultures, falcons and hawks.
Fishing is a popular pastime in Zavkhan. Khar Nuur and Bayan Nuur lakes are rich with fish, and many of the hundreds of smaller rivers throughout the province provide decent fishing.

## Population

Population growth in Zavkhan aimag stopped in 1994, then migration out of the aimag (approx. 40,000 in 1995-2005) reduced its population to the end of 1979 level. The majority of the population is ethnic Khalkha but there are sizable Khotgoid and Kazakh minorities.
    Zavkhan aimag population 1956 census 1960 est. 1963 census 1969 census 1975 est. 1979 census 1981 est. 1989 census 1990 est. 1992 est. 1994 est. 1996 est. 1998 est. 2000 census 2002 est. 2005 est. 2008 est. 55,10061,00060,00070,80076,00079,80081,70088,50091,960102,834103,150102,341100,90587,68683,51678,66876,614

## Notable natives and residents

* Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat, First President of Mongolia (1990-1997)
* Natsagiin Bagabandi, Second President of Mongolia (1997-2005)
* S. Damdinbazar Mongolian Jalkhanz Khotagt (Жалханз Хутагт, "reincarnated saint") Independence activist and Prime Minister of Mongolia (1922-1923)
* Begziin Yavuukhulan, Mongolian poet
* Noroviin Baatar, Mongolian ballet dancer and film actor
* B. Jamsranjav, Mongolian Saint, Lama
* S. Chimedtseren, Mongolian Saint, Lama

## Economy

Herders breed each of the "5 Kinds" (5-н хошуу мал)of animal in Zavkhan. In 2005, the aimag was home to 2,1 million head of livestock, among them 1,03 million sheep, 861,000 goats, 107,000 cattle and yaks, 101,000 horses, and 6,300 camels.
The area is also rich with mineral resources such as iron ore, tin, gold, copper, diamonds, molybdenum ore, and phosphorite. While Zavkhan's mineral wealth remains largely been unexploited, in 2012 the Golden Hill Project mine was built by Bayan Airag Exploration LLC outside of Durvuljin soum.
In 2018, the province contributed to 1.08% of the total national GDP of Mongolia.

## Transportation

The old Uliastai Airport has two unpaved runways and is located close to the city, but it has no regular flights operating. Since 2002, the Donoi Airport (or "New Uliastai Airport") with one unpaved runway is located about 25 km west of the city and gets served by regular flights to and from Ulaanbaatar.

## Administrative subdivisions

    The Sums of Zavkhan Aimag Sum Mongolian Population(2005) AldarkhaanАлдархаан3,708 AsgatАсгат1,125 BayankhairhanБаянхайрхан1,968 BayantesБаянтэс3,024 DörvöljinДөрвөлжин2,323 ErdenekhairkhanЭрдэнэхайрхан1,771 IderИдэр2,714 Ikh-UulИх-Уул6,271 NömrögНөмрөг1,848 OtgonОтгон3,478 SantmargatsСантмаргац2,101 ShilüüsteiШилүүстэй2,450 SonginoСонгино1,921 TelmenТэлмэн2,820 TesТэс3,230 TosontsengelТосонцэнгэл9,045 TsagaanchuluutЦагаанчулуут1,496 TsagaankhairkhanЦагаанхайрхан1,823 Tsetsen-UulЦэцэн-Уул2,114 TüdevteiТүдэвтэй2,003 Uliastai *Улиастай15,742 UrgamalУргамал1,822 YaruuЯруу2,547 ZavkhanmandalЗавханмандал1,324
       * The aimag capital is Uliastai