Arvaikheer
Arvaikheer (Mongolian: Арвайхээр) is the capital of Övörkhangai Aimag (province) and one of the most central points of Mongolia.
It is a centre for traditional crafts, goat herding and equestrian sports, and hosts a large regional horse festival every year. Arvaikheer has a population of 19,058 (2000 census), 23,298 (2004 est.), 24,954 (2006 est.), 25,622 (2008 est.[1]). Arvaikheer is by far the biggest town in the aimag.
[edit] Transportation
The Arvaykheer Airport (AVK/ZMAH) has one unpaved runway and is served by regular flights to Ulan Bator and Altai. Arvaikheer is linked to Ulan bator by a paved road and can be reached by public busses from the capital.
[edit] Sights and Infrastructure
Until 1990, Arvaikheer was the headquarters of a large division of the Soviet Army which had a heavy influence on the daily life in the town.[2] After the fall of communism, however, many public buildings were renovated or rebuilt, e.g. the Sports' Palace in the eastern part of the town. A large park was laid out opposite. Another public park is just being laid out in the west of the town center. Planting trees and flowers is difficult in Arvaikheer, as the climate is dry and the annual precipitations are just 254,2 mm per year.[3] Most of the inhabitants do not live in yurts, but in houses built of stones.
There are several interessting modern buildings in the town center, e.g. the urban administration building and the theatre, which have just been renovated, in the central square. The high street of Arvaikheer is a broad tree-lined avenue where two monuments dating from the times of the Mongolian People's Republic before 1990 are worth a visit as well.
Gandan Muntsaglan Khiid is a comparatively large monastery about one mile away from the central square. By order of Khorloogiin Choibalsan, it was destroyed in 1937, but reopened in 1991. About 60 monks live here at present.[4]
The Aimag Museum where various fossils and items from Karakorum can be seen is worth a visit as well.[5] Another museum is dedicated to the artist Zanabazar.
Arvaikheer has a large hospital, a kindergarten and various schools and colleges. There are three hotels, an internet café and restaurants in the center. In comparison to other towns in Mongolia, Arvaikheer offers a large variety of shops.
[edit] References
- ^ Övörkhangai Aimag Sums Statistics, 2009
- ^ Werner Elstner: Mongolei, p. 132. Berlin 1993.
- ^ Marion Wisotzki: Mongolei, p. 184. Berlin 2010
- ^ Michael Kohn: Mongolia, p. 117. London 2008.
- ^ Michael Kohn: Mongolia, p. 118. London 2008.
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Coordinates: 46°15′58″N 102°46′40″E / 46.26611°N 102.77778°E
