The city of Ulan-Bator (Ulaanbaatar) is the capital of Mongolia. It is situated on the banks of the Tuul River at a height of 1,300-1,350m above sea level. Nearly 30% of the country's population live in the capital. Ulan-Bator's population is over one million people, of which 60% are young people.
The city was founded in 1639. Its name has changed several times and was known as Ikh Khuree (the centre of Buddhism) and Urga (the Imperial military headquarters). The first Russian Consulate opened in the Mongolian capital in 1860. Later, at the end of the nineteenth century, the United States, Britain, Germany, Austria and Norway opened consulates and established trade representation.
In 1911, Urga became the capital of the newly independent theocratic monarchy of Bogd Khan. In 1921, the Mongolian people's democratic revolution took place.
Today Ulan-Bator is the political, economic, scientific and cultural centre of Mongolia. There are more than 100 state and private educational establishments.
The capital's historical and architectural sites include: the summer residence of Bogd Khan, the museum of Tantrism (Choijin Lama), the National History Museum, the Paleontological and Ethnographic Museum, and so on.
The Gandan Centre of Mongolian Buddhism, with its complex of monasteries and temples, is also situated in Ulan-Bator.
In the capital's centre is Sukhbaatar Square with a monument to the leader of the Mongolian popular revolution.