The giant Genghis Khan face carved into a hill south of Ulaanbaatar.
Half Ulaanbaatar’s population lives in traditional felt tents, heated by burning coal, so as the winter temperatures go below -40, smoke pollution can get intense. (Image source.)
A team of Mongolian scientists from the Institute of Chemistry of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the Physical Chemistry Department of the Russian Academy of Science have announced creation of coal that burns without smoke. Sounds useful!
This article about the city of Ulaanbaatar planning to build a large glass dome to cover the entire city and control cold temperatures and pollution happens to be dated April 1st. I am sure that date is not significant at all. :)
Questions about the feasibility of the structure were raised during the press conference but immediately dismissed as being un-patriotic. The minister added that we cannot expect journalists to understand such a great project. The Mongolian government has a proud history of following through with its promises on budget and on time, this project will follow along with that excellent track record.
Minister Batbold further denied categorically being influenced by the Simpsons movie in which a similar idea was presented, claiming that he had the idea long before the movie was produced.
See also this article about Ulaanbaatar installing a mass transit system based on catapults.
I don’t think I have ever seen Ulaanbaatar’s flag before, and it’s pretty neat. The flag shows Khan-Garid, legendary King of the Birds. On his forehead is a soyombo (symbol of Mongolia also found on the Mongolian flag and this tumblr’s avatar) and he is holding a key to represent prosperity and a lotus flower for peace.
Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia’s capitol city. It houses a little under half Mongolia’s population.
Weather conditions in Ulaanbaatar - very cold, very clear, are ideal for the formation of hoarfrost. The feathery ice crystals form on snow or solid objects that lose too much heat to the open clear sky and become colder than the air, so water freezes out of the air onto them.
Mongolia averages 257 cloudless days per year, so even in winter, the skies are usually clear.
