Khövsgöl Province (Mongolian: Хөвсгөл аймаг) is the northernmost of the 21 provinces of Mongolia, bordering Buryatia and Tuva, Russia. Its name is derived from Lake Khövsgöl, the largest freshwater lake in the country. The province was established in 1931. Its administrative center is the city of Mörön; prior to 1933, its capital was Khatgal, located near the southern tip of Lake Khövsgöl.
The round-topped Tarvagatai, Bulnain, and Erchim sub-ranges of the Khangaimassif dominate the south and southwest of the largely mountainous province, and north and west of Lake Khövsgöl lie the alpine Khoridol Saridag, Ulaan Taiga, and Mönkh Saridag mountains. The central and eastern parts of the province are less mountainous, but still hilly.[citation needed]
The region is well known in Mongolia for its natural environment,[citation needed] and Lake Khövsgöl, the largest freshwater lake, is one of the country's major tourist attractions. The largest forests of Mongolia are located around and to the north of the lake, extending the South Siberiantaiga.[citation needed]
The aimag was founded in 1931. Khatgal was the administrative center until 1933; since then it has been Mörön.[citation needed]
Population
The region is home to many ethnic minority groups: Darkhad, Khotgoid, Uriankhai, Buriad, and Tsaatan. Both the Darkhad and Tsaatan are famous for their practice of shamanism.
Ethnic minority groups in Khövsgöl (self-identification), 2000 census
In 2018, the province contributed to 1.84% of the total national GDP of Mongolia.
Livestock
In 2007, the aimag was home to about 3.43 million heads of livestock, among them about 1,510,000 goats, 1,442,000 sheep, 322,000 cattle and yaks, 150,000 horses, 2,350 camels, and 652 reindeer.
Sums of Khövsgöl
Transportation
The Mörön Airport (ZMMN/MXV) has one paved runway. It offers regular flights from and to Ulaanbaatar, and also serves as intermediate stop into the western Aimags.[citation needed]
The Khatgal Airport (HTM) only runs scheduled flights from and to Ulaanbaatar in summer, offering a more direct approach to Lake Khövsgöl for the tourists.[citation needed]
The road distance from Mörön to Ulaanbaatar is 690km. A new paved road finished in fall 2012 now connects Mörön to Khatgal on Lake Khövsgöl.[citation needed]
Oyungerel Tsedevdamba, human rights advocate, first Mongolian to graduate from Stanford, first woman to join the Mongolian parliament;[citation needed]
