Bayan Ulgii province

Bayan-Ulgii province was established in August of 1940. It is the most western region of Mongolia and is located 1301 to 4374 meters (95.3 percent of the land is 1600 meters above sea level) above sea level, surrounded by glacial mountains and has 45.8 thousand square kilometer land. Majority of the population are Kazakh people and the rest consist of Uriankhai and Tuva people. Religion was heavily restricted during the Soviet era, but after the democratic revolution of 1990, Kazakh population restored their religion and established number of Islamic Mosque which changed their way of living. 60,000 Kazakh people emigrated to Kazakhstan when Nursultan Nazarbaev encouraged the Kazakh people living all over the world to work and live in their homeland.

Migration of Kazakh people to Mongolia started around 1850s, majority of them coming from Western China. Another migration occured when the Russian Empire pushed out the Kazakh ethnics to the neighboring countries. Mongolian Kazakhs have a unique culture of Eagle Hunting, which has over 250 years of history. Seven wonders of Bayan-Ulgii province are Yolt basin, Altai-Tavan Bogd national park, Potanin glacier, petroglyph of Baga Oigor and Tsagaan salaa mountains, Baga Turgen waterfall, Tolbo lake and Achit lake.

Tourism: Tourists can travel through the pristine nature of Mongol Altai mountains, visit specially protected areas and can experience the unique culture of Kazakh, Tuva, Uriankhai and Durvud ethnic groups. Eagle hunters should be very interesting; Golden Eagle Festival is held in October every year. Tourists can fish, hike, visit natural wonders such as glaciers, take part in cultural ceremonies such as making offerings to ovoo (sacred stone heaps), go on horseback and camel riding adventures and visit historical landmarks. Since Bayan-Ulgii province has numbers of natural reserves, you can go on a search for rare animals and plants.