Choibalsan (city)

This article is about the Mongolian city. For other uses, see Choibalsan.

Coordinates: 48°04′42″N 114°32′06″E / 48.07833°N 114.535°E / 48.07833; 114.535

Choibalsan (Чойбалсан)
Aimag capital
Bridge over the Kherlen River in Choibalsan (taken in 1972)
Name origin: Named after Khorloogiin Choibalsan
Country	Mongolia
Aimag	Dornod
Elevation	747 m (2,451 ft)
Coordinates	48°04′42″N 114°32′06″E / 48.07833°N 114.535°E / 48.07833; 114.535
Population	38,150 (2008)
Timezone	UTC+8
Area code	+976 (0)158
Location of Choibalsan in Mongolia
Website: [1]

Choibalsan (Mongolian: Чойбалсан) is the fourth-largest city in Mongolia. The name of the city was Bayan Tu'men (Баян Түмэн) until 1941, when it was renamed after the communist leader Khorloogiin Choibalsan. It is the capital of the province of Dornod. The city administrative unit's official name is Kherlen sum, with area of 281 km². It is situated at the Kherlen River, at an elevation of 747 m above sea.

History

The location has been a post on a trading route for centuries. In the 19th century it grew into a city, and became the economic hub of eastern Mongolia in the twentieth century. After democratization in 1992, when the Russian workers left, large parts of the economy collapsed. Since then, the city has suffered from one of the highest unemployment rates in Mongolia.

Due to the city's proximity to the site of the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, it contains a museum dedicated to Georgy Zhukov, hero of the battle.

Population

The city of Choibalsan has a population of 45,490 (1994), 41,714 (2000), 36,142 (2003), 39,500 (2006),^[1] 39,500 (2007, 53.2% of the Dornod Aimag's total population),^[2] 38,150 (2008 51.2% of the Aimag's population).^[3]

Choibalsan is inhabited primarily by Halh Mongols, with smaller numbers of Buryats, Barga Mongols, and Üzemchin. There is also a minority of immigrants from Inner Mongolia in China.

Climate

Choibalsan experiences a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with very cold, very dry winters and warm, wetter summers.

Climate data for Choibalsan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	−14.4 (6.1)	−10.7 (12.7)	−0.5 (31.1)	10.5 (50.9)	19.0 (66.2)	24.9 (76.8)	26.6 (79.9)	24.4 (75.9)	18.0 (64.4)	8.8 (47.8)	−3.4 (25.9)	−11.8 (10.8)	7.62 (45.71)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−20.5 (−4.9)	−17.7 (0.1)	−7.8 (18.0)	2.6 (36.7)	11.3 (52.3)	17.6 (63.7)	19.8 (67.6)	17.9 (64.2)	10.6 (51.1)	1.5 (34.7)	−9.8 (14.4)	−17.6 (0.3)	0.66 (33.19)
Average low °C (°F)	−25.5 (−13.9)	−23.9 (−11.0)	−14.8 (5.4)	−4.1 (24.6)	3.8 (38.8)	10.8 (51.4)	14.4 (57.9)	12.1 (53.8)	4.9 (40.8)	−4.2 (24.4)	−15.2 (4.6)	−22.7 (−8.9)	−5.37 (22.34)
Precipitation mm (inches)	1.6 (0.063)	1.9 (0.075)	2.9 (0.114)	6.3 (0.248)	14.4 (0.567)	39.0 (1.535)	57.4 (2.26)	43.3 (1.705)	27.2 (1.071)	7.7 (0.303)	3.3 (0.13)	2.6 (0.102)	207.6 (8.173)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	0.6	1.0	0.7	1.6	3.2	5.7	8.7	8.1	4.6	1.6	1.1	0.9	37.8
Sunshine hours	198.4	214.7	266.6	264.0	294.5	306.0	297.6	288.3	258.0	238.7	201.0	176.7	3,004.5
Source: Hong Kong Observatory [4]

Transportation

The Choibalsan Airport (COQ/ZMCD) has one paved runway, and is served by regular flights to Ulan Bator.

References

1. ^ Dornod Aimag: Статистикийн мэдээлэл 2006 (Statistical information), 2007-01-16
2. ^ Dornod Aimag Statistics Office
3. ^ Dornod Aimag Statistics Office.Dec. 2008 Report
4. ^ "Climatological Normals of Choibalsan". Hong Kong SAR Government. http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/asia/china/choibalsan_e.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-05. 

Coordinates: 48°04′42″N 114°32′06″E / 48.07833°N 114.535°E / 48.07833; 114.535