Khuvsgul Lake National Park

In 1992, this stunning landscape was set aside as Lake Khuvsgul National Park. In 2011, the whole territory of the park was expanded to 1.180.270 hectares when the upper headwaters of the Uur River were made a part of the park. 

It’s also the place where you can see many species of birds and mammals, such as sables, castors, Mongolian deer, Siberian roe deer, brown bears, or lynxes. elk, wolf, musk deer, Siberian moose, and others. We also find in this area some endemic plants, such as marsh saxifrage and valerian.

Snow-capped peaks of two wonderful mountain ranges look down on the Lake. The Park includes the complete Lake Khuvsgul basin and contains the transition zone between the Central Asian Steppe comprised of forests and grasslands and the Siberian Taiga, which is dominated by forests of larch underlain with permafrost.

Khuvsgul Lake

Khuvsgul Lake is the second largest lake in Mongolia by its area, after Uvs Lake which is a saline lake. But it is the largest freshwater lake in Mongolia and regarded as “the blue pearl of Mongolia” because of its water clarity, so clear that we can drink it. it contains nearly 70% of all fresh water in Mongolia. Khuvsgul lake is one of the 17 ancient lakes worldwide and is variously estimated between 2 and 5 million years old.

It is located above sea level at 1645 meters (1,02 miles), its length is 136 kilometers (85 miles), while the width is 36 kilometers (22 miles) and 267 meters (876 feet) deep.

Lake Khuvsgul flows to Lake Baikal which is the largest freshwater Lake in the world in Siberia. The only outlet river Eg flows to the Selenge River, which connects Lake Baikal with Lake Khuvsgul. That’s why Lake Khuvsgul is known as “Baikal’s younger sister”. The water will have to flow on more than 1000 kilometers (621 miles) after leaving Khuvsgul before flowing into Baikal.

Geologists say the lake is connected to the Baikal Lake underground. Over 46 streams pour into Khuvsgul Lake that contains 12 species of fish, 4 large islands, and 70 percent of the lake is more than 100 meters deep, clear water reaches 24 meters. By the end of November, water freezes completely 1 m thick ice. The lake is surrounded by high mountains which is 3000-3200 meters above sea level. 

The lake is very full of fish. The omul of Baikal, the lenok, the grayling, and the sturgeon of Siberia found there an excellent environment.

You can travel by the “Sukhbaatar” ship running since 1910, for continually 30 years.

Tsaatan (reindeer herders) Reindeer herder people (Tsaatan)

The Tsaatan people, known as Reindeer herders, in Khuvsgul province of northern Mongolia are nomadic people who depend on reindeer for nearly all aspects of survival, as well as cultural, spiritual, linguistic, and economic identity.  During World War II, their home country of Tuva was taken over by the Soviet Union. It was really hard for them to survive under Soviet rule. A nomadic people, many Tsaatan families left Tuva and escaped to Mongolia because the Russian government had been seizing their animals, while their only life was reindeers. Lately, It is said that there are approximately 500 Tsaatans living in Tsagaannur soum.

Reindeer are milked daily, providing the staple component of the Tsaatan diet largely consisting of reindeer dairy products. Naturally shed antlers are used to carve tools and make handicrafts that are sold to tourists. Perhaps the most significant use of deer in the Tsaatan system is for transport. Reindeer are ridden and used as pack animals during nomadic moves that occur every 2-10 weeks. They are an essential mode of transportation in the high mountain, road-less taiga. A single reindeer can accommodate up to 65 kilos of weight, consisting of household items, personal belongings.

Additionally, those Reindeer herders reside between 51 and 52 degrees north latitude in wintertime.

Sukhbaatar ship

The Sukhbaatar aircraft has a capacity of 400 horsepower, is designed to tow 2,000 tons of cargo, and weighs 360 tons. It burns 150-160 liters of fuel per hour. When you reach Khusliin Khad, you will travel 17 km with 30-150 people

Khatgal soum

Khatgal soum is located 100km far from Murun town.  Its population is estimated at around 2990 citizens. Many ethnic groups, including Darkhad, Buriad, Uriankhai, Khotgoid, Sartuul Khalkh, and Tsaatan, are living in Khatgal, but majority are Khalkh.

Before Manchu domination, the village of Khatgal was part of the Western Mongol Empire until the mid-1600s. According to Russian historical sources, there was a smelter for military weapons of western Mongolia.

After the Khalkha Mongols came under Manchu oppression in 1696, a Guards Service was established along the Russian border, and the Khatgal Guard was established near present-day Khatgal. Thus began the settlement of Khatgal soum.

In 1921, Khatgal became the administrative center of the region. When Khuvsgul aimag was organized in 1931, it became the aimag center, but in 1933, the aimag center was moved to Murun. In 2008, Khatgal was connected to the central power grid and cellular network

Darkhad valley

The Darkhad valley is a beautiful, mountainous valley situated between the Ulaan Taiga and Khoridol Saridag ranges at an altitude of about 1600 m, about 160 km long, and 40 km wide in the territory of Khövsgöl province and the border with Tuva in Siberia.

This place is famous for its natural beauty and rich in lakes and rivers but a bit remote and unreachable by Mongolian normal people. The Darkhad valley is divided into the Ulaan-Uul, Renchinlkhumbe, and Tsagaannuur sums. Inhabitants are mainly Darkhad (whom the valley's name derives from), and also some Tsaatan. The Darkhad tribe is famous for its shaman practice and reindeer herders.

It was transferred from the People"s the Republic of Tagna Tuva to the Mongolian People"s Republic in 1925 as a Soviet concession to the Mongolians, who had wanted to incorporate the territory of Tagna Uriankhai into their country. 

The Darkhad Valley can also be reached on a long trek from Lake Khovsgol.