Ulan Bator

Ulan Bator (pop. 619,000), capital and largest city of Mongolia. Located in the northeastern part of Mongolia along the Tuul Gol River, the city developed around a famous Buddhist monastery built in 1639. For years it served as an important trade center along a route between Russia and China. The city was known as Urga and Niislel Khureheh until it was renamed in 1924 in honor of the famous Soviet revolutionary leader Sukhe Bator. Today, Ulan Bator is Mongolia's cultural and industrial center. It is the home of the Mongolian State University and a science academy. Meat packing is an important industry along with the manufacture of furniture, textiles, and pharmaceutical products.

See also: Mongolia.