Western Mongolia is a country of majestic snow-capped mountains and different ethnic groups. Among the ethnic groups, Kazakhs are the national minority and the only Muslim people in Mongolia. Mongolian Kazakhs have been preserving their custom and tradition in its origin compared with Kazaks of different countries. They hunt with trained eagles and most of the families have traditional musical instrument dombra. They play, dance and sing with the instrument wearing traditional embroidered clothes and live in colorful, decorated with embroidery, slightly bigger gers than gers of other parts of Mongolia. They celebrate Eagle Hunting Festival each autumn and traditional New Year on 22 March annually. See them in events part. Also, the famous throat singing was originated from western Mongolia. Mongolia is considered the cradle of the first man. Particularly, western Mongolia contains many evidence of the earliest man such as petroglyphs dates back 40 000 years ago in the caves and on the rock, first man’s settlements date back 700 000 years ago, burial mounds, and stone figures belong to different periods of history and more. Freshwater and salt lakes, the majestic Altai Mountains are beautiful and extremely rich in wild species and birds. Some of them endemic. Every year, a definite number of hunters travel to Mongolia and head to the Altai Mountains to hunt a particular number of mountain sheep and ibex according to an allowed permission. Mongolia mountain sheep and ibexes considered the biggest in body size and have big horns.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Uvs Lake
Uvs Lake is located 1460 km from Ulaanbaatar, in Uvs province in the northwestern part of Mongolia.The saline lake Uvs is the largest lake in Mongolia covers 3350 sq.kilometer surface area. A small part of the lake sticks into Russia. Uvs is a 10-20 m deep relatively shallow lake with a width of 79 km and a length of 84 km. 679600-hectare area of Uvs Lake basin comprises of alpine mountains, snow-capped mountains, steppes, several smaller lakes, semi-desert including 180 long Altan and Buurug Del sand dunes. The basin was set as a strictly protected area to protect its flora, fauna, distinctive natural formations, and historical site. Uvs Lake basin is a Central Asian largest untouched Inland watershed. About Uvs lake, 38 rivers feed the lake such as Baruunturuun River, Nariin River, Kharkhiraa River, and Sangil River from
the Altai Mountains. The primary feed Tes River has its source in Bulnai Mountain range in Mongolia and flows through the Tuvan Republic in Russian Federation. Then, the river feeds back into Uvs Lake in Mongolia. Its delta is some 40 km wide and is an important wildlife habitat including the waterfowls.
The Uvs lake basin geo-climatic boundary between Siberia and Central Asia has an extraordinary temperature range; the lowest winter temperature -58 °C has been recorded here. The temperatures can rise to 45 °C in summer.
The depression is home to 173 bird species and 41 mammal species, including the globally endangered snow leopard, argali, Roe deer, musk deer, and Asiatic ibex. In Uvs Lake basin, the world’s most northern desert meets the world’s most southern tundra zone. The lowest point of the Uvs Lake basin is 758.9 m above the sea level while the highest point is 4037 m Kharkiraa Mountain snow-capped peak. In 2003, the UNESCO listed the Uvs Lake Basin as a natural World Heritage Site. It was nominated due to its spectacular nature, habitats and is one of the largest intact watersheds in Central Asia. There are about 40,000 archeological sites of historically famous nomadic tribes such as the Scythians, the Turks, and the Huns.
Khyargas Lake
Khyargas Lake is located 1300 km from Ulaanbaatar city, in the territory Uvs province, at an altitude of 1035 m above the sea level.
Khyargas is a saltwater lake amidst semi-desert in the Great Lakes Depression/Ikh Nuuruudiin Khotgor on the territory of Naranbulag, Tsagaan Khairkhan, Malchin, and Khyargas soum of Uvs province. The lake and its surrounding 332.800 ha protected area were established as a nature reserve in 2000. The lake is 75 km long, 31 km wide with a surface area of 1481 км². The average depth is 50 m and 80 m at its deepest. The lake is a magnet for migratory birds including its island. The lake’s main attraction is Khetsuu Khad rock on the eastern shore of the lake. Khetsuu Khad is a 5-7 km long underwater rock. Some parts of the rock sticks out of the water, look like islands
where countless migratory cormorant birds attracted and nest. Khetsuu Khad rock is a favorite spot for photographers and local travelers. The lake’s location is on the way to the adventure travel routes of western Mongolia. Not only the lake, but there are also several scenic places on the way to the lake.
Khar Us Lake National Park
Khar Us Lake is located 1390 km west of Ulaanbaatar, in Khovd province. Khar Us Lake is the second large freshwater Lake in Mongolia after Khuvsgul Lake. Elevated 1156 m above the sea level, 72 km by 36 km in size. The lake is relatively shallow with an average depth of 2.2 m and a maximum depth of 4.5 m. Lake has 10 islands. Khar Us lake is divided into north and south by Agshab, 30 km long and 274 sq kilometers reed-covered island. Overall, the lake and its reed-covered shallow wetland area are a perfect habitat for waterfowls by Ramsar Convention and a paradise for the bird watcher. There are about 200 species of birds registered and about 20 species are rare or endangered: Dalmatian pelican, white-headed duck, swan-goose, Pallas’s fish eagle, greater spotted eagle, black stork, lesser kestrel, white-naped crane, great bustard, white spoonbill, great crested grebe, and relict gulls. It is not easy to reach the lake due to its marshy surroundings and advisable to follow a guide or a ranger they can bring you to the best bird-watching spot. May and late August are the best times to
watch the birds. One of the biggest afflux Khovd River delta is the best bird-watching spot. However, consider mosquitos and insects.
850.272 hectares areas of Khar Us Lake, Khar Lake, Durgun Lake, surrounding semi-desert, desert-steppe, and steppe have been protected as a national park since 1997 to protect the rare bird species and antelopes. Mountain sheep Argali, Siberian ibex, and snow leopard are among the mammals.
Tsambagarav Mountain
Tsambagarav Mountain is located 1380 from Ulaanbaatar, in Khovd province in western Mongolia.
The researchers set up some snow and glacier measuring tools that help to study the global warmth showing the same indication as the northern pole.
Altai Mountain Range branch Tsambagarav Mountain is a part of Tsambagarav National Park. The 110,960 ha area was set up in 2000 to protect endangered species such as Snow Leopard, Argali sheep, Ibex, Rock Ptarmigan, and Altai Snowcock. The Argali wild sheep found in the park is the largest in the world. The mountain peak is 2208 m Tsast Uul. The mountain has several glaciers and is a significant area for glacier study. Except for the wildlife, the scenic Tsambagarav Uul National Park has plenty of archeological sites and historical evidence including rock drawings, deer stones, and balbal stones. The mountain glacial gorges have waterfalls, streams, and turquoise lakes.
Mongolian Khoid Tsenkher Cave
Gurban Tsenkher is a limestone cave located 25 km west of Mankhan soum, Khovd province 1340 km southwest of Ulaanbaatar at an altitude of 1571 m above the sea level. The cave is named differently. Both Gurban Tsenkher Cave and Khoid Tsenker Cave are for the same cave. Tsenkher is the name of a nearby river and there are 3 Tsenkher rivers: North Tsenkher, Middle Tsenkher, and South Tsenkher. The cave is closest to North Tsenkher or Khoid Tsenkher. The cave has two halls. The big hall wall height is 15 m, roof height 20 m reveals the cave has a round roof. Smoke-black rock depicts the ancient people lived in the cave except for Gurban Tsenkher Cave has been keeping valuable ancient art painted in umber and red ochre. The drawings date back to the 40.000 ago upper Paleolithic period, depicts animals such as stags, buffalo, oxen, ibex, lions, Argali sheep,
antelopes, camels, elephants, ostriches, and mammoth. Travelers can discover the cave and surrounding area while staying in a ger camp located 1 km from the cave. Except for the cave drawing, there are more rock drawings in the surrounding mountains.
Altai Tavan Bogd Mountain
Altai Tavan bogd is large massif with eternally snow-capped peaks runs through the western end of Mongolia bordering Russia and China. UNESCO inscribed it on the World Heritage List. It is a protected area covering 6,362 km2 and it offers a home to many species of alpine animals such as Argali Sheep, Ibex, Red deer, Beech Marten, Moose, Snow cock, and Golden Eagle. The highest of the five peaks Khuiten rise up to 4374 meters and is home to three large freshwater lake and 34 glaciers. Snow-covered peaks soar into the cloudless sky and the frozen glaciers glitter in the sun’s rays. It is one of the untouched wilderness in Asia.
The beautiful scenery of Tavan Bogd mountains make premier attraction in the west and, many archaeological sites which form the petroglyph complexes, standing stones
and burial mounds are registered in UNESCO as the “World Heritage Site”. The dramatic landscape of this area has several large lakes and 10m waterfall with inhospitable pathwork of brown, red and Grey-desert scrub, sand and jagged rock. The park is home for many endangered species including wild sheep “Argali”, ibex, Grey wolves, Red Deer, snow leopards, elk, Altai snow-cock and Golden eagle. People are mostly Kazakh ethnic group who are famous with eagle hunting cultures.
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