The city of Erdenet is Mongolia's third-largest city, with approximately 90,000 inhabitants. Capital of Orkhon Province, Erdenet lies in the northern part of the country, 241 km as the crow flies from Ulaanbaatar. A paved road spanning 370 km connects the two cities. There is no airport.

History

Erdenet is one of Mongolia's youngest cities. It was founded in 1974 in an area where significant copper deposits were discovered in the 1950s. A 121 km railway line connecting Erdenet to the Trans-Mongolian Railway was inaugurated in 1977.

By the mid-1980s, more than half the population were Russians working as engineers or miners. After the fall of communism in 1990, most Russians left Erdenet, and today approximately 10% of the population is Russian.

Economy

The city is home to the world's fourth-largest copper mine. "Erdenet Mining Corporation" is a Russian-Mongolian joint venture that long represented the country's primary source of revenue. 22,230,000 tonnes of ore are extracted from the mine annually, including 126,700 tonnes of copper and 1,954 tonnes of molybdenum. Mine revenues still accounted for approximately 13.5% of Mongolia's GDP in 2010 and 7% of its tax revenues. Approximately 8,000 people are employed there.

It is possible to visit the mine provided that a request is made several months in advance.

Erdenet is also renowned for its carpet factory, located approximately 2 km from the city centre and established in 1981. Each year, approximately 2,000 tonnes of wool are processed in the facility, where approximately 1,100 people work. It is also possible to visit the factory.