Khorgo terkhiin tsagaan nuur national park

Khorgo extinct volcano (spelled also Horgo)

It was established to protect the spectacular mountain scenery and endangered species of flora & fauna. It's surrounded by the Khangai Mountains, which reach 3000 meters above the sea level. Over a comparatively small area where there are a dozen or so extinct volcanoes. In the craters, some of them are very tiny crystal- clears lakes. The Khorgo crater, situated at an altitude of 2.210 meters with a diameter of 20 meters and a depth of 70 to 80 meters, is the most interesting at all.

There is no lake in this crater, but clouds of a steam jet out it is crevices forming ice molds in winter, which from a distance look like large flocks of sheep scattered on the mountain. Near the crater, there are dozens of small caverns with stalactites hanging from their ceiling and walls. Some time in past volcanic lava flooded the valleys nearby which are covered today with small woods and a great variety of berries and flowers. In the woods, there are lots of deer, wild goat, and other animals, as well as various kinds of birds.

Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake

An immense mass of white-hot lava once blocked the bed of the River Terkh and it is water formed Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan, which is 16 kilometers in length, 20 meters in depth, and 61 square kilometers in this area. It is situated at an altitude of 2.060 meters. River Suman, cascading from the lake in stormy torrents, pierced through the rocks to form a canyon and several small lakes. The waters of the river are so turbulent that they do not freeze in the severest winter frosts. In the middle of the lake, there is volcanic Island is covered with nests made of the fragrant grass Sam Khan. Here all day long you hear the hum and cries of birds and the quacking of ruddy shell duck and many types of ducks and geese &. Red deer, Siberian deer, wild bear, Great Cormorant is common in summer, nesting around the lake.

Things you can do:

• Visiting nomadic family
• Horse riding
• Hiking
• Bird watching

Travel tip:

If you are visiting Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur national park, consider combining it with a visit to "Ugii lake" at the same time.