Töv Province (fromMongolianтөв[tʰөw̜] 'centre') is one of the 21provinces ofMongolia. The national capitalUlaanbaatar is located roughly at its center, but the city itself is administered as an independent municipality.
The province (aimag) includes the western part of theKhentii Mountains, the mountains around the capital, as well as rolling steppe in the south and west.The most interesting body of water is theTuul River, which crosses Ulaanbaatar and later joins theOrkhon River.
Manjusri Monastery is located near Zuunmod in theBogd Khan Mountain national park.It was founded in 1733 and used to be the home of 20 temples and 300 monks. Most of it was destroyed by the communists, yet the last temple was restored after democratisation and hosts a small museum today.
TheGorkhi-Terelj National Park was founded in 1993. It covers a part of theKhentii Mountains. It is most well known for its spectacular rock formations, including a rock that looks like a giant turtle from the right perspective.[4] The landscape has an alpine character, withlarch andpine forests, sparkling mountain rivers, and very diverse flora and fauna.
InKhustain Nuruu National Park, about 120 km south west of Ulaanbaatar, the original wild horses,Takhi of Mongolia (Przewalski horses) have been released to the wild again in a process first begun in 1993. The project has been quite successful, and has developed into an attraction for both scientists and tourists.
Because it is considered sacred, the mountain Mount Bogd Khan south of Ulaanbaatar has been a protected area since 1778. During socialism, it was formally established as a national park. This stopped theurban sprawl of the capital on its southern side.
In Sergelen, the urban development projectMaidar City is planned to relieve the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar. This project will multiply the population of this aimag.[5]