Öndörkhaan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Öndörkhaan (Mongolian: Өндөрхаан; sometimes also Undur Khan), is a town in Mongolia located 290 km east of Ulan Bator. Öndörkhaan has a population of roughly 15,000 persons and serves as the capital of the Khentii Aimag (province).
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[edit] Geography
Öndörkhaan shares its locational with the Kherlen sum (municipality) and is the most populous part of the Hentiy province.
Öndörkhaan is the second coldest city in Mongolia. 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 -40C (no wind chill factor).
[edit] Economy
Coal mining is important to the economy of the town and a coalfield is located in the Mörön River valley, 50 miles from Öndörkhaan.
There exists a major United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 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.
[edit] History
When the Chinese leader Lin Biao fled China, his plane reportedly crashed outside Öndörkhaan on September 13, 1971, killing Lin and his entire family.
[edit] Transportation
The Öndörkhaan Airport (UNR/ZMUH) has one unpaved runway and is serviced by regular flights from and to Ulan Bator.
The town serves as a transportation hub, linking Ulan Bator and Choibalsan, and it is also a major stopping point for the secondary overland access point between Mongolia and China.