Erdenet is the second-largest city in Mongolia, with a 2018 population of 98,057, and the capital of the aimag (province) of Orkhon. Located in the northern part of the country, it lies in a valley between the Selenge and Orkhon rivers about 240 km (149 mi) northwest of Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan, the capital. The road length between Ulaanbaatar and Erdenet is about 370 km (230 mi).

Orkhon is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in the north of the country. Its capital is Erdenet. The province is named after Orkhon River. Orkhon Province was carved out of Bulgan Province in 1994, to form a new entity together with its capital Erdenet, which had previously been administered as a federal municipality.