Western Mongolia: West Mongolia includes three provinces – Uvs, Bayan-Olgii, and Hovd. It’s a beautiful region with the stunning Altai Mountain Range and the Great Lakes Depression, making it one of Mongolia’s most attractive places. Many different ethnic groups live here, offering a great chance for cultural exploration. The Kazakhs, residing in Bayan-Olgii province, are a popular ethnic group. They are the second largest in Mongolia, making up 6% of the population, around 101,000 people. Bayan-Ulgii: Bayan-Ulgii Province borders Russia and China and has a diverse population. The people in these mountains have actively preserved their traditional lifestyles for centuries. The Kazakhs, Mongolia’s largest ethnic minority, have lived here since the 1800s. They have a unique tradition of hunting with trained eagles, celebrated yearly at the Golden Eagle Festival. Eagle hunting is common in other parts of the world, but it’s most popular in Bayan-Ölgii, where about 80% of the world’s eagle hunters live. In Bayan-Ölgii, 93% of the people are Kazakhs. Other communities like Uriankhai, Dörvöd, Khalkha, Tuvans, and Khoshuud also reside here. Many speak Kazakh as their first language, and Mongolian is often a second language or not spoken at all. The Kazakh culture in Bayan-Ölgii is strongly influenced by Islamic traditions. The Ölgii mosque, home to the Islamic Center of Mongolia, is unique – it’s oriented exactly towards Mecca. There’s also a madrasah (Islamic school) located there.
