Darkhan (city)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Categories: Mongolia geography stubs | Cities and towns in Mongolia | Settlements established in 1961

For other uses, see Darkhan.

Darkhan (Mongolian: Дархан, blacksmith) is the third-largest city in Mongolia and the capital of Darkhan-Uul Aimag (Darkhan-Uul Province). It has a population of 74,000 (as of 2006).

History

Ground was broken on October 17, 1961, and the city was built with extensive economic assistance from the Soviet Union. As its name implies, the city was originally conceived to be a manufacturing site for Mongolia's northern territory. The city remains a mostly industrial region and is the home of some 82% of the aimag's population. As with most urban Mongols, some 86% of the city's population live in residential apartments, with the remaining population living in yurts on the outskirts of the city. The city is close to Russia and retains a fairly large percentage of native Russians.

Culture

The Kharagiin monastery is housed in a pretty log cabin in the old town; it has recently become active again as a Buddhist monastery.

In addition, the city hosts the Museum of Darkhan-Uul. This museum, also called the Traditional Museum of Folk Art, contains a collection of archaeological findings, traditional clothing, religious artifacts, and stuffed animals.