Ulaanbaatar

capital cities · Mongolia · extreme cold · history

Freezing capital. Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital city in the world by average yearly temperature. Winters there are long and brutal, with temperatures dropping way below freezing.

High mountain valley. The city sits at about 1,300 metres (4,300 feet) above sea level in a valley along the Tuul River in north central Mongolia. This high elevation contributes to its icy climate.

Moved around a lot. When Ulaanbaatar started in 1639 as a Buddhist monastic centre, it didn't stay in one place. The whole city moved 29 different times before finally settling at its current location in 1778.

Huge population. Today about 1.79 million people call Ulaanbaatar home, making it the largest city in all of Mongolia. That's a lot of people bundled up against the cold.

Buddhist roots. The city began as a gathering place for nomadic Buddhist monks who traveled across the Mongolian landscape. It has remained an important centre for Mongolian culture and religion.