Khovd (city)

Khovd (Ховд)
City
The city of Khovd
Country Mongolia
Aimag Khovd
District Jargalant
River Buyant Gol
Elevation 1,395 m (4,577 ft)
Coordinates
Area 80 km2 (31 sq mi)
Population 28,601 (2007)
Density 357 / km2 (925 / sq mi)
Founded 1731
Timezone UTC+7
Area code +976 (0)143
Location of Khovd in Mongolia

Khovd or Hovd (Mongolian: Ховд), formerly known as Kobdo or Khobdo, is the capital of the Khovd Province of Mongolia.

Contents

Geography and climate

It is situated at the foot of the Mongol Altay Mountains, on the Buyant River. The Khar-Us Lake is located approximately 25 km east of Khovd, and is the location of a Strictly Protected Area (Mongolian Government designation), called the Mankhan Nature Preserve.

Khovd is known throughout the region for its watermelon and tomato harvest in the late summer, as well as the high quality of its seasonal meat products.

As a result of administrative reforms in 1992, Khovd was accorded the status of Jargalant sum. City area is 80 km2.

Khovd has a cold desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWk) with long, dry, frigid winters and short warm summers. Precipitation is minimal and very heavily concentrated in summer.

Climate data for Khovd
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −16.3
(2.7)
−12
(10)
0.3
(32.5)
11.1
(52.0)
19.1
(66.4)
23.8
(74.8)
24.7
(76.5)
23.4
(74.1)
17.7
(63.9)
9.0
(48.2)
−2.3
(27.9)
−12.9
(8.8)
7.1
(44.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) −24.3
(−11.7)
−20.2
(−4.4)
−7.4
(18.7)
3.9
(39.0)
11.9
(53.4)
17.1
(62.8)
18.6
(65.5)
16.7
(62.1)
10.6
(51.1)
1.5
(34.7)
−9.7
(14.5)
−20
(−4)
−0.1
(31.8)
Average low °C (°F) −29.9
(−21.8)
−27.1
(−16.8)
−14.7
(5.5)
−3.5
(25.7)
4.6
(40.3)
10.3
(50.5)
12.3
(54.1)
10.0
(50.0)
3.9
(39.0)
−4.7
(23.5)
−15.7
(3.7)
−25.6
(−14.1)
−6.7
(19.9)
Precipitation mm (inches) 1.4
(0.055)
0.9
(0.035)
2.3
(0.091)
5.9
(0.232)
9.5
(0.374)
26.5
(1.043)
35.0
(1.378)
22.7
(0.894)
10.6
(0.417)
4.6
(0.181)
1.8
(0.071)
1.6
(0.063)
122.8
(4.835)
Source: Hong Kong Observatory [1]

Population

The city has a population of 26,023 (2000 census), 30,479 (2003, est.), 28,601(2007[2]).

In 2005, the sum had 32,351 inhabitants (6,675 households), belonging to more than ten ethnic groups and nationalities such as Ööld, Khalkh, Zakhchin, Torguud, Uriankhai, Myangad, Dörvöd, Bayad, Kazakh, Chantuu (Uzbek) and Üzemchin.[3]

History

The city was established by Galdan Boshogtu Khan of Dzungaria in the 17th century on the bank of the river Khovd in what is now Erdenebüren sum. Horticulture was developed around city Khovd using the land cultivating experience of the captives from East Turkestan and Central Asia. The city was 'moved' by the Qing administration after destruction of the Dzungar Khanate after 1757 on to the bank of the river Buyant. On 7 August 1912, the Mongol troops under leadership of Manlai Baatur Damdinsuren, Khatanbaatar Magsarjav and Ja Lama Dambiijantsan with popular support of the local people liberated city Khovd, destroyed all the Manchu-Chinese garrison and abolished the governance of the Qing-appointed amban.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Climatological Normals of Khovd". Hong Kong SAR Government. http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/asia/china/khovd_e.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-03. 
  2. ^ Khovd Aimag Statistical Office 2007 Annual Report
  3. ^ Feasibility Assessment of Sustainable Use of Land and Water in the Buyant River Delta, Khovd Aimag.National University of Mongolia.[1]
  • Mongolia City Development Strategies for Secondary Cities [2]