Öndörkhaan


Öndörkhaan, is a town in Mongolia located 290 km east of Ulaanbaatar. The Mongolian Parliament, State Great Khural, renamed the city Chinggis City on November 18, 2013, in honor of Genghis Khan, who was born and possibly buried in the same province north of the city. Öndörkhaan has a population of roughly 15,000 persons and serves as the capital of the Khentii Aimag.

History

On September 13, 1971, Lin Biao died when a Hawker Siddeley Trident he was aboard crashed in Öndörkhaan.

Geography and climate

Öndörkhaan shares its location with the Kherlen sum and is the most populous part of the Khentii province.
Öndörkhaan experiences a semi-arid climate with long, dry, frigid winters and short, very warm summers. It borders the Kherlen River and is located on a broad flat unprotected plain. In winter, when the river freezes over and the winds howl across the open steppe it can easily reach without the subtraction of wind chill.

Economy

Coal mining is important to the economy of the town and Chandgana Tal coalfield is located 53 km W from Öndörkhaan.
There exists a major United Nations Development Programme Networking and Cluster Development project stationed in Öndörkhaan specializing in the strengthen of urban, peri-urban and rural business associations and networks so as to reduce the very high unemployment rates.

Transportation

The Öndörkhaan Airport has one unpaved runway and was serviced by regular flights from and to Ulan Bator, before the paved highway was completed.
The town serves as a transportation hub, linking Ulaanbaatar and Choibalsan.