Bayan Ölgiy
Bayan Olgiy (Mongolian: Баян Өлгий, Kazak: Баян Өлгей, also spelled in English as Bayan Ulgii, Bayan Ölgiy, Bayan Olgii, etc...) was established in 1940. It is the westernmost aimaq in Mongolia. It is very different than the rest of the country however. Unlike the rest of Mongolia the main population in this aimaq is Kazakh. Thus the speech, religion, and customs of the people are very different. Bajan Ölgiy covers an area of 45,700 square kilometers, and has a population of 91,068 (as of 2000).The highest mountain in Mongolia Khuiten Uul (4374 m) is located in this aimaq, in the north, on the border with China.
Because of recent articles, including the September '99 National Geographic article on the eagle hunters of that province "untouched by tourism" many tourists have flocked to Bayan Olgiy in the last few years.
The Aimaq is made up of thirteen administrative units, the aimaq center Olgiy and twelve soums (a ''soum is a subdivisions of an aimaq).