What is the capital city of Mongolia, located near the Tuul River?

Ulaanbaatar is the capital city of Mongolia, located near the Tuul River. It lies in a valley at about 1,350 metres above sea level, surrounded by the forested mountains of the Khentii range. With well over a million residents, it is Mongolia’s largest city and its political, economic, cultural, and educational center.

The city began as a mobile Buddhist monastic settlement called Örgöö in 1639. It moved many times before settling at its present location in 1778. The name Ulaanbaatar, meaning “Red Hero,” was adopted in 1924 after the Mongolian Revolution and the establishment of the Mongolian People’s Republic.

Ulaanbaatar contains the seat of Mongolia’s government, major universities, museums, and the Gandan Khiid Buddhist monastery. Its climate is famously severe: long, dry winters can produce extreme air pollution as residents burn coal and other fuels for heating. Rapid migration from rural areas has also contributed to traffic, housing pressure, and expanding ger districts.