Copper Mine

The open-cut Copper Mine, easily seen to the north of the city, is one of the 10-largest copper mines in the world. It's also a tremendous burden on the country's infrastructure and consumes nearly 50% of Mongolia's electricity.

Open-cut mining is more damaging to the environment but infinitely safer than digging mine shafts below the surface. Also, since this particular mountain is almost solid copper and molybdenum ore, this is the only practical way to reach it. Despite the destruction of the mountain, the long-term environmental effects aren't as bad as the gold mines in nearby Zaamar, where rivers are being polluted and poisoned.

The mine accounts for around 40% of Mongolia's hard-currency earnings, producing some 25 million tonnes of copper/molybdenum ore per annum. Thanks to skyrocketing copper prices the mine is now profitable and it earns between US$150 million and US$200 million in profit annually. Nearly all the copper is sent to China and some bits of it may be inside your mobile phone.

The mine is worth a visit if you've never visited one like this before. You'll need to show your passport to the guard at the gate. No-one seems to mind if you look around on your own, but it would be wise to check in at the administration building, up the hill from the guard station, on the left. A taxi to the mine and back from the town centre costs about around Tug4000, including waiting time.