Darkhan | |
|---|---|
| Darkhan District Дархан сум ᠳᠠᠷᠬᠠᠨᠰᠤᠮᠤ | |
 | |
 Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: Second capital | |
  Darkhan | |
| Coordinates:49°28′08″N105°57′27″E / 49.46889°N 105.95750°E /49.46889; 105.95750 | |
| Country | Mongolia |
| Province | Darkhan-Uul Province |
| Founded | October 1961 |
| Area | |
• Total | 103 km2 (40 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 665 m (2,182 ft) |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 87,696 |
| • Density | 850/km2 (2,200/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (UTC + 8) |
| Postal code | 213800 |
| Area code | +976 (0)137 |
| Vehicle registration | ДАx (x variable) |
| Climate | Bsk |
| Website | http://www.darkhan.mn/ |
Darkhan (/ˈdɑːrkɑːn/;Mongolian:Дархан[tárχəɴ]) is the capital ofDarkhan-Uul Province in northernMongolia, and the third-largest city in the country.
On October 17, 1961, the city of Darkhan was built with extensive economic assistance from theComecon.[1] As its name implies, the city was originally conceived to be a manufacturing site for Mongolia's northern territory.Polish specialists built awoodworking plant,brickworks and alime factory in Darkhan.[1]Hungarians built a meat factory, opened in 1974.[2]
In 1985, the city housed thetallest building in the country when a 16-story apartment was opened.[3]
The city remains a mostly industrial centre and is the home of some 82% of Darkhan-Uul Province's population. As with most urban Mongols, some 86% of the city's population live in residential apartments, with the remaining population living inyurts (gers) on the outskirts of the city.[citation needed]
With an elevation of 665 metres or 2,182 feet, Darkhan is the capital of theDarkhan-Uul Province. It is a city with notableSoviet influence, evidenced by the huge square buildings and heavyCyrillic usage. Darkhan is surrounded by mountains and hills, also having some tourist attractions likestatues largely beingBuddhist attractions. Some parts of the city have wooden houses.
TheKharaa River passes through the western edge of the city.
Darkhan has a borderlinesemi-arid climate (BSk), close to the more typicalsubarctic climate (Dwc) of northern Mongolia, which is found in higher areas near the city, and only marginally dry enough to avoid qualifying as ahumid continental climate (Dwb). These three climate types tend to overlap a good deal over the border regions of Mongolia,Russia andKazakhstan.[4] This area has extremely cold and dry winters; however the summers are warmer and more humid.
| Climate data for Darkhan, 1984–2010 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −16.9 (1.6) | −10.1 (13.8) | 1.4 (34.5) | 13.1 (55.6) | 21.7 (71.1) | 27.2 (81.0) | 28.4 (83.1) | 26.4 (79.5) | 19.6 (67.3) | 10.7 (51.3) | −3.1 (26.4) | −13.4 (7.9) | 8.7 (47.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −23.6 (−10.5) | −18.0 (−0.4) | −6.3 (20.7) | 4.6 (40.3) | 12.4 (54.3) | 18.3 (64.9) | 20.6 (69.1) | 18.4 (65.1) | 11.3 (52.3) | 2.9 (37.2) | −9.9 (14.2) | −19.6 (−3.3) | 0.9 (33.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −30.3 (−22.5) | −25.9 (−14.6) | −13.9 (7.0) | −3.9 (25.0) | 3.1 (37.6) | 9.4 (48.9) | 12.8 (55.0) | 10.3 (50.5) | 2.9 (37.2) | −4.9 (23.2) | −16.6 (2.1) | −25.8 (−14.4) | −6.9 (19.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 3.7 (0.15) | 3.0 (0.12) | 3.6 (0.14) | 9.5 (0.37) | 20.3 (0.80) | 52.1 (2.05) | 67.4 (2.65) | 67.2 (2.65) | 33.8 (1.33) | 12.5 (0.49) | 7.0 (0.28) | 4.6 (0.18) | 284.7 (11.21) |
| Average precipitation days | 6.7 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 12.3 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 8.5 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 7.7 | 98 |
| Source:World Meteorological Organization[5] | |||||||||||||
The main industry of Darkhan iscoal mining. It has also several heavy industries, such asmetallurgy, chemical and construction.[6]
TheKharagiin monastery is housed in alog cabin in the old town; it has recently become active again as aBuddhistmonastery.
In addition, the city hosts theMuseum of Darkhan-Uul Province. This museum, also called the Traditional Museum of Folk Art, contains a collection of archaeological findings, traditional clothing, religious artifacts, andtaxidermy.
The city has a monument to the horse-head fiddle (morin khuur), the national emblematic instrument of Mongols.
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. Currently in Darkhan Uul Aimag there are 10 higher education institutions, 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.
Darkhan houses the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry.[7]
The city is powered by theDarkhan Thermal Power Plant. Waste water is treated at theDarkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant before being discharged to the nearby river. The city is served by theDarkhan General Hospital.
Darkhan is served by the Darkhan-1 railway station in the north and Darkhan-2 railway station in the south.[8] Darkhan is connected by four-lane road to Ulaanbaatar for a length of 204 km along theAH3.[9]
Darkhan is partnered with:[10]
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| National | |
