Bayan-Ölgii Province – Mongolia's Kazakh homeland, founded in 1940
Bayan-Ölgii, the westernmost of Mongolia's 21 aimags, was established in August 1940 with its capital at Ölgii. It is the country's only province with a Kazakh and Muslim majority, and its people have preserved their language, music, embroidery and customs among the high peaks and valleys of the Altai Mountains. The region is especially renowned for its tradition of hunting with golden eagles, a skill handed down from generation to generation.
Today herding families still move with their animals between summer and winter pastures, while Ölgii is a lively centre of Kazakh culture in Mongolia. Do you have stories, photos or family memories from Bayan-Ölgii? Share them with our community!