Provinces of Mongolia

This post is part of the Mongolia Week series of posts for February 22-28.

The sparsely-populated east-central Asian country MONGOLIA has 21 provinces, which are called aymguud (plural) and aymag (singular). Before 1994, there were 18 until Darhan-Uul, Gövĭsümber, and Orkhon were created. Darhan-Uul (capital: Darhan) was created from central Selenge province and is completely surrounded by Selenge, Govĭsümber (capital: Choyr) formed from extreme northern Dornogovĭ province, and Orkhon (capital: Erdenet) formed out of eastern Bulgan province. The 18 original provinces are described in detail below.

● Arhangay — Along the Hangayn Mountains' northern fringe, this province is found in north-central Mongolia. Tsetserleg is the capital.

● Bayanhongor — On the other side of the Hangayn Mountains, Bayanhongor sits at the Gobi (Govĭ) Desert's western fringe in southern Mongolia. It is located north of China. Bayanhongor is the capital.

● Bayan-Ölgiy — Along the Altay Mountains, this province is Mongolia's westernmost province. It is located north of China and south of Russia. Ölgiy is the capital.

● Bulgan — East and northeast of Arhangay province, Bulgan is located in north-central Mongolia and south of Russia. Bulgan is the capital and largest city. Before Orkhon province was created, Erdenet was Bulgan's largest city based on population.

● Dornod — Being the easternmost province, Dornod is located among the Menengiyn Plain west of northeast China and south of Russia. The Wall of Genghis Khan travels through northern Dornod. Along the Kerulen River, Choybalsan is the capital.

● Dornogovĭ — North of China, this province in southeast Mongolia is the eastern extent for the Gobi Desert. Located in central Dornogovĭ, Buyant-Uhaa is the capital.

● Dundgovĭ — This province in east-central Mongolia is located west of Dornogovĭ and south of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's national capital. Its southern areas are part of the Gobi Desert. Mandalgovĭ is the capital.

● Dzavhan — In northwest Mongolia, Dzavhan is the westernmost extent of the Hangayn Mountains. It is located west of Arhangay and Bayanhongor provinces, and its capital is Uliastay.

● Govĭ-Altay — In southwest Mongolia and north of China, this province is the Altay Mountains' easternmost extent and is located west of Bayanhongor province and south of Dzavhan province. Altay is the capital.

● Hentiy — In northeast Mongolia south of Russia, Hentiy is west of Dornod province, north of Dornogovĭ province, and east of Ulaanbaatar. The Wall of Genghis Khan traverses through northeast Hentiy province. Öndörhaan is Hentiy's capital.

● Hovd — In western Mongolia among the Altai Mountains, Hovd is southeast of Bayan-Ölgiy, west of Govĭ-Altay, southwest of Dzavhan, and north of China. West of Har Us Lake, Dund-Us is Hovd's capital.

● Hövsgöl — This province is located in northern Mongolia, specifically north of Arhangay, northwest of Bulgan, northeast of Dzavhan and the Bulnayn mountain range, and south of Russia. Hövsgöl Lake is a vertical lake in northern Hövsgöl province. Its capital is Mörön — yep, the word "moron" but with a different pronunciation!

● Ömnögovĭ — In the heart of the Gobi Desert, this province is north of China in southern Mongolia. It is found east and southeast of Bayanhongor, south of Dundgovĭ, and west of Dornogovĭ. The Govĭ Altayn mountain range stretches across northwest Ömnögovĭ. Dalandzadgad is the capital.

● Övörhangay — Located in central Mongolia along the Gobi Desert's northern fringe, Övörhangay is south of Arhangay and Bulgan, east of Bayanhongor, west of Dundgovĭ, and north of Ömnögovĭ. Its capital is Arvayheer.

● Selenge — South of Russia in northern Mongolia, Selenge is east of Bulgan, west of Hentiy, and north of Ulaanbaatar. Its capital is Sühbaatar, the same name of another province as seen right below.

● Sühbaatar — West of northeast China in eastern Mongolia, Sühbaatar is found south of Dornod, northeast of Dornogovĭ, and east of Hentiy. The capital is Baruun-Urt.

● Töv — Completely surrounding the municipality of Ulaanbaatar, this province is located north-central Mongolia. It is southeast of Bulgan, west of Hentiy, northeast of Dornogovĭ, north of Dundgovĭ, and south of Selenge. Its capital is Dzuunmod.

● Uvs — In northwest Mongolia, Uvs is located northeast of Bayan-Ölgiy, north of Hovd, west of Dzavhan, and south of Russia. Uvs Lake in northern Uvs province is the largest lake is Mongolia's largest lake. The capital of Uvs province is Ulaangom.