DESTINATIONS:
Mongol Daguur Strictly Protected Areas
: Established in1992 to protect and preserve the steppe environment which is home to plant and animal species, breeding and endangered bird species, to use for research purposes. This area became the first cross-boundary protected area, the boundary region between Russia China and Mongolia in 1994 and in 1997 the territory became part of the East Asian Crane protecting international network area. The protected area covering 103,000Ha extends over Chuluunkhoroot, Dashbalbar and Gurvanzagal Soum territory. Black, white and other kinds of rare Northeast Asian cranes lay their eggs and gather in large numbers here during migration.
Numrug Strictly Protected Areas:
located along the border through the western region of Hyangan Mountain range, this protected area of 311,200Ha was established in 1992 in order to protect the forest area, animal and plant species of Hyangan mountain range and the water shed that is found in this area. Numerous rare and endangered animal species such as; Ussuri Moose, Manchurian mole, otter, brown bear and bird species such as wild duck, eagles, falcons, cranes and condors can be spotted here.
Yakhi Lake (National Preserve Area)
In order to protect gazelle and resting site for migrating bird species, the area was taken under protection in 1998. This national preserve area is located on the borders of Choibalsan, Sergelen and Gurvanzagal Soum and extends over 251,38Ha. There are numerous species of animals such as white antelopes, wolves, marmots and steppe foxes, as well as migratory and sedentary birds such as vulture and magnificent landscapes featuring rocky hills, valleys and mountains.
Ugtam Mountain (National Preserve Area)
The Ugtam Mountain region was made into a preservation area in 1993 with the purpose of restoring the wild life and preserving the habitat of endangered animal and plant species. This mountain lies in the area of Bayandun and Dashbalbar Sum became one of the national preserve areas.
Toson Khulstain Lake (National Preserve Area)
Surrounding Toson Khulstai Lake, this 4700Km² area in Tsagaan-Ovoo, Khulunbuir and Bayantumen sums was made into a preservation area in 1998 as the main reserve for white antelopes. Wide spread are 80 different kinds of herbs such as the; Prickled Rose, Orchid, Rib Grass, grassy plant, along with rare Cranes, Steppe Bustards and Hedgehogs.
Historical sightseeing
Dornod is ideal for those interested in historical sightseeing. There are the ruins of the Kherlen Bar city of the Kidan period in the 11th century north of the Kherlen River in Tsagaan Ovoo soum; the wall route of Chinggis Khaan’s crossing of Bayan-Uul, Bayandun, Dashbalbar and Gurvanzagal soums; the Ikh Burkhant complex created between 1859 and 1864 which is 35km from Khalkh-Gol soum; stone figures from the Tureg period at Shonkh Tavan Tolgoi; the Khiimori Gobi in Matad soum; stone figures in Khutsuu, Naran and Sergelen soums; the ruins of freedom fighter Count Savaa in Sergelen soum; an artificial mountain created by Count Togtokhtur of Ilden Khoshuu in Tamsagbulag, Khalkh-Gol soum; the Utai Tavan Mountains; and Turtle Rock or Ger Rock, recorded in “The Secret History of the Mongols”.
Sum khuh burd:
The oasis of sum khukh burd is situated on the territory of Adaatsag sum in Dungobi aimag. There is a monastery, built by Mongolians on the island of Burd. It is said that Prince Danzanravjaa set his famous play “Saran Khukhuu” in this monastery. Swan, Duck and Partridge are common on the lake. In the south of lake Burd, a spring Uudiin Bulag is famous for its curative properties. Sum khukh burd has been a protected area since 1998.
Del Mountain.
It is a small schist range in Ulziit soum and lies to the northwest and southeast at about 25 km away. It has many hills in sequence and every hill is far 10 km from others. Therefore it is named Del Uul. A lot of ancient drawings on the rock such as horses and goats can be found in the Del Mountain area.
Delgeriin Choir. This monastery is located on the south east of mountain Baga gazriin chuluu and south east of Ikh Delger Mountain. It was a palace of Zavadamdin where he wrote his books. Nowadays the monastery is still working.
Uush Mankhan.
Uush Mankhan is an interesting place with big sand dunes, lying in the northern part of the centre of Buyant Bag. A picturesque place, Zagiin Us is 50 Km southeast of Uush Mankhan. A spring, Tugaliin Buleen, is in Khuld soum and is also famous for its curative properties.
Tevsh Coalmine.
Tevsh mine extracts brown coal and it is 30Km from Mandalgobi. The coal layer reaches 200 m deep in the centre.
Mountain Baruun Biluut.
There is a rock with rock painting and ruin script on the Baruun niluut mountain of Ulziit sum and it has enjoyed state protection since 1998. Also the 100m long cave of Khevtee Bosoo is located nearby.
Mountain Delgerkhangai Uul.
Delgerkhangai Uul is located in Delgerkhangai soum in a vast plain and the mountain reaches 1,926m above sea level. It is rich in rare animals and streams, many gorges are distributed widely throughout the valley.
Kharaat Uul.
Kharaat Uul lies on the wide plain. Local people gather on this mountain on every 15th of the middle autumn month by the lunar calendar, to predict the coming winter weather – claimed not to differ from the official one. Kharaat Uul possibly had been named Kharkhalzan Mountain as mentioned in the “Secret History of Mongols”. Local people believe in this history.
Yarkh Uul.
Yarkh uul is located on the territory of Gurvansaikhan sum. The remains of a human skeleton nearly 300,000 years old have been discovered. A large stone axe factory from the Palaeolithic era can also be found here. It has enjoyed state protection since 1998.
Deluun Boldog
It is said in the Secret history of Mongolia, Genghis khan was born in a place called Deluun Boldog and there are 2 places in Mongolia that have the same name, of which one of them is located in Binder Soum. Some historians may not be convinced, but recent discoveries are proving that this Deluun Boldog is after all the exact location of Temujin’s birth place. Deluun boldog site is considered the birthplace of Chinggis khan. In 1962 Khentii province official people erected the very first monument in the memory of Chinggis khan for his 800 birthday anniversary. Although Mongolian communist government people ordered to destroy it down, the local people sent false message about execution of the order to the government, and they kept it until today.
Khodoo aral of Kherlen
This site is very famous and significant site for its chronicle. Book “Secret history of Mongols”, that tells biography of Chinggis khan and historical events concerning to Mongolia Empire, was composed and finished in this place. During finishing the composition of the book the Mongolian empire capital was moved to this place and set here. Also son of Chinggis khaan – Ogoodei khan was chosen as the king at the meeting of key people of the country.
Onon-Baljin water basin
This river basin stretches from northeast of Khentii aimag to northwest of Dornod aimag. It is located between the Siberian coniferous taiga forest and the Central Asian arid steppe, thus makes the land geographically unique and neutral. The 415,800Ha Onon Baljin National Park was established in the year 2000. Kherlenbayan-Ulaan Uul: stretching to the east of the Kherlen River, this large mountain has never experienced natural disaster (a Dzud) or drought.
PLACES TO VISIT.
Buir Nuur.
This beautiful lake is the largest in eastern Mongolia (the northern shore is actually in China). The surrounding countryside is mostly grassland, though there are a few trees. The lake has a maximum depth of 50m and, if you’re equipped with the proper paraphernalia, is a good place to fish.
Khalkhin Gol.
The banks of the Khalkhin Gol, in the far eastern part of Dornod, are of particular interest to war historians because of the battles against the Japanese in 1939. The dry, unpolluted air ensures that most of the relics, which are just lying around, have been well preserved.
Numerous war memorials line the banks of the river. The memorials are real socialist masterpieces, built to honour the Russian and Mongolian soldiers who died here. The largest memorial is the 50m Khamar Davaa. A museum in Siimber (also known as Tsagaannuur), and a smaller one in Choibalsan, offer some explanations (in Mongolian) about the history of the battles.
Another interesting site in the region is Ikh Burkhant, where there is a huge image of Janraisig (Sanskrit: Avalokitesvara) carved into the hillside. The carving was commissioned in 1864 by local regent Bat Ochiriin Togtokhtooriin, or Tovan (van means ‘lord’) and was reconstructed between 1995 and 1997.
Historical monuments Following are the historical and cultural monuments which are located in the north of Kherlen River valley in Tsagaan-Ovoo Soum, there are ruins of Kherlen Bar of Qidan period (11th century)
Choibalsan’s Mongolian Heroes’ Memorial. It is a large arch with a soldier on horseback charging towards the enemy.
Danrag Danjalan Khiid.
According to the chief monk, this monastery was built around 1840 and was once very active. It contained three northern temples and four southern temples, but less than half the 800 monks could be accommodated at one time, so most had to pray outside. The Mongolian security forces descended on the place in 1937, destroyed all records and arrested most of the monks, none of whom has ever been heard from since. In June 1990 the monastery reopened and it now has two small temples where about 35 monks worship.
Kherlen Bar city
. Kherlen Bar Khot is the location of some small-scale ruins and a 3m-high tower from a 12th century city, once part of the ancient state of Kitan. There are also some balbals (Turkic stones believed to be grave markers) and, predictably, a Chinggis Khaan memorial of sorts: a rock called the ‘Chinggis Bed’, which commemorates his stay here. You can see a picture of the tower in the Choibalsan History Museum. Kherlen Bar Khot is about 90km West of Choibalsan, in the sum of Tsagaan Ovoo. It is on the main road between Choibalsan and Ondorkhaan, and is worth a look if you have your own vehicle.
Chinggis Khan’s wall
A passage that extends through Bayan-Uul, Bayandun, Dashbalbar, and Gurvanzagal Soum, located 35 km from Khalkhgol Soum, there is a Ikh Burkhantiin Park which was built in 1859-1864, stone men of Turk period in Shonkh Tavan Tolgoi, the Khiimori Gobi in Matad Som, stone statues in the place called Khutsuu of Sergelen Som, ruins of freedom fighter Earl Savaa’s Statue in Sergelen Som, man-made mountain by Togtokhtur king of ILden Hoshuu which is located in the place called Tamsagbulan of Khalkhgol Som, Utai tavan Mountain, Melhii or a ger cave which was written in the Secret History of Mongols.
Mountain Baga Gazariin Chuluu.
Mountain Baga Gazariin Chuluu is a picturesque mountain with an elevation of 1,751 meters in the Granite Belt of Mongolia; its many valleys abound with streams.
Ikh Gazrin Chuluu.
The Mountain Ikh gazryn chuluu is located within the granite belt of Mongolia. The highest peak is Yerlug uul, 1,706 meters above sea level. The mountain was declared as a National Park with an area of 250km². Also it has more than 40 caves.
The spring Bari Khamba.
It is an unfrozen space which is sourced from underground aquifers and is located on the corner of a building on the East Side of the monastery of Ongi. It’s composition is based on chloridium, bi-corbonate, natrium and magnesium and is used for treating internal diseases.
Tsagaan Suvarga.
The scarp of Tsagaan Suvraga is interesting to see the sheer cliffs, facing east from a distance it seems to look like the ruins of the ancient city. The cliff is 30m high and 100m wide. Over thousands of years the wind weathering has carved this amazing natural beauty. Tsagaan Suvarga has numerous ancient rock paintings and the eroded landscape is rich in fossil seashells.
Zagiin Us.
In 1996, Zagiin Us Nature Reserve was established for the purpose of protecting the saxaul forests and habitat of goitered gazelle. Zagiin Us occupies 273,606 Ha in the Manlai Sum of Umnugovi Aimag, Ulziit and Mandakh Sums of Dundgobi Aimag. Zagiin Us is the northernmost part of saxaul forest distribution.
Ongiin Khiid.
This is small mountainous area runs along the Ongiin River. The bend in the river marks the remains of two ruined monasteries, the Barlim Khiid on the North bank, and the Khutagt Khiid on the South. Together the complex is known as Ongiin Khiid. There are plenty of interesting ruins to explore. Almost 1000 monks were living in the monastery
Khokh Nuur of Khar Zurkh (Blue Lake of Black Heart) Blue lake is very important place in Chinggis khan’s childhood and fellow-hood, also for making changes in his life. When Temujin /Chinggis khan’s boy name/ young man were escaping away from his enemies, he hired in this lake water and got free. Later Temujin brought Burte Ujin as his fiancée, married and started his family. After that Temujin became the king of All Mongol tribe. After that Temujin was conferred as Chinggis Khan, he stayed in this area many times.
Rivers Kherlen River One of our 3 famous rivers, the Kherlen flows from the Khentii Mountains running for 1,264km and flows into the Dalai River in China. There river is full of different kinds of fish such as Sheat-fish, Ruff, Grey Mullet, Brachymystax Lenok and Carp.
Onon River: Flows from Khentiikhan Mountain range, this river runs for 808km before joining the Shilka River in Russia. The Onon runs over 445km of Mongolian land. There are fishes such as Acipencer, Grey Mullet, Sheat- fish, Burbot in this and other rivers such as the Khurkh and Balj which feed the Onon.
Gurvan Nuur:
Is located among the pine forest close to Dadal soum at an altitude of 800m, this river consists of 3 multiple rivers. The waters include carbonic acid and sulphur. The first monument to Genghis was built in 1962.
Baldan Bereen Monastery
One of the largest Buddhist centre and also an institute of medical and nursing in Mongolia, this monastery was first built in 1784. At its peak it was one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia and home to over 3000 monks and nuns. The main temples and many of the adjacent buildings were destroyed in 1937, in accordance with the communist government’s anti-religious policy. From 1998, the centre of protecting world heritage made a draft of project that will run 7 years to restore the sites of the monastery and the project started to implement from 2000. Locals and Buddhist from all around the world are supporting financially and physically to restore this monastery.
Rashaan Rock-drawings, scribes, settlement
On the Rashaan rock there are numerous carvings and paintings depicting animals and humans as well as carvings of several hundred of tribal seals and around 20 scripts in Orkhon, Hidan, Arabic-Persian, Chinese, Tibetan and Mongolian languages. These historical remains date from the upper Paleolithic age to medieval age. These findings suggest that area around the Rashaan rock used to be the center of western Mongolian culture and civilization. Experimental archeological excavations of minor scale were undertaken in this area and discovered more than 5000 stone tools.
Deer monument
Deer monument around Rashaan rock is the real interesting sight, which will show the Mongolian tribes artwork and carving ability. In the surrounding area there are 12 square tombs and 2 big burial places located in the center. The figures of 7 deer’s engraved to cover the whole surface are largely fainted and worn out.
Oglogch fortress
There are ruins of a wall built by carefully placing pieces of stone on each other and using the mountains side as a support. No clay was used to hold the stones together. This construction is called Oglogch fortress. About 3 km long, the wall has doors on the southern and northern sides. The wall is 3.1 m tall and 2.5 m thick. There are no any ruins to prove that inside of this fortress there were used to be constructions. Researchers suggested that it was a fort of archers or this is the tomb place of royal people. Recently in summer 2002, American expedition group undertook excavation to find out Chinggis khan tomb.
Altan Ovoo The skyline of Dariganga is dominated by Altan Ovoo (Golden Ovoo) also called Dari Ovoo by locals. 1354m in altitude, this is a sacred extinct volcano which has been worshipped since the 17th century. In 1913 The Bogd ordered locals to restart the worshipping of the Ovoo. Women are not to go to top, but they can go to the west down area if they wish. There also is a passage where woman can go. In 2004 the President decreed this Ovoo to be a sacred mountain to be worshipped.
Bayan Dulaany Agui (Cave of Bayan Dulaan) This cave mountain is located on the border of Dariganga and Naran Sum at an altitude of 1752m. This mountain used to be worshipped only during battle time. The cave is west of the extinct volcano but, nobody knows it’s a cave unless you go much closer to it. It’s a hidden place that first you have to crawl for 20m then you can stand up and walk. This part of this cave is basalt and the cave then becomes a tube shape with a diameter of 70 cm. The cave is 50m in length.
Shiliin Bogd Located 60km southeast of Dariganga centre, this is the highest peak in Sukhbaatar at 1778m. This extinct volcano has a crater of 2km wide and over 300m deep. From the crater rim you can see the other 180 extinct volcanoes in the area.
Taliin Agui 14 km northwest of Shiliin Bogd Uul, located in the middle of a barren steppe, there is the cave Taliin Agui. It was hard to get to this place before but now a passage has been made. After entering, the cave trends downward. Taliin Agui is a 10,000 cubic meter with a 200m long basalt cave. The cave walls are multi-coloured and very beautiful. From its type, this cave is considered to be the largest in Mongolia.
Uushiin Gobi Is located on the border of Tuvshin Shiree, Khalzan and Bayandelger Sum, Uushiin Gobi is one of the 33 Gobi’s in Mongolia. There are two main lakes called Ikh Tsagaan and Baga Tsagaan in the Gobi. On the rainy summers, the lakes get larger making it 10km longer than its usual size.
Lhachinvandad Uul Located 70km southeast from Erdenetsagaan sum centre of Sukhbaatar province, this mountain has a flat and rocky top and is at an altitude of 1233m. The mountain extends for over 2-3km. This mountain covers 588km² and together with its east and west subordinate mountains has been strictly protected since 1965.
Moltsog Els, Ongon Els (sand dune): The locals call the Ongon dune, the Dude of “Shar Burad” which is located in Ongon Sum territory covering 127km². The other, Moltsog Dune is a sand dune located in the territory of Dariganga covering 248km². At the end of this sand dune, there is a lake called Dagshin Lake.
Khatavchiin Khavtsal (Canyon): In front of Khalzan Sum, the canyon extends for over 3km looking detached along the latitude is the Khatavchiin Khavtsal. The wall of canyon is measured 15-16m long and 30-100 m wide. The sediment of this canyon was deposited during the Mesozoic Era, about 350 million years ago during the Devon Age. The rock type of this canyon fine sandy rock.
Ganga Nuur: The lakes Ganga Lake, Kholboo Lake, Erdene Lake, and Duut Lake are home to thousands of migrating swans. In the autumn very rare swan gatherings take place in these lakes. In 2004, 629km² of area including Ganga Lake, Altan Ovoo, Moltsog sand dune was decreed as the Dariganga Natural Park.
Tal Bulagiin Rashaan A spring water resort located in the vast steppe of Nuurstiin Khotgor which has the minerals of hydro carbonate, sulfate, calcium and magnesium. The spring water is believed by locals to benefit the stomach. South west of this spring water resort, there is another spring water resort called Ariin Lake, which has the same mineral ingredients.
Budriin Chuluu There is a collection of granite rocks extending over 15km which date back to the Mesozoic Era in the southern area of Ongon Sum called the Burdiin Stone. The rock is 10m high. Through the years it has been eroded and many holes and cracks are found.
Volcano platform in Dariganga 30m wide volcanic rock spreads about 10,000km² of area is located in the eastern Sums in Sukhbaatar Province. 222 extinct volcanic mountains are aligned in 5-6 parallel lines along the longitude. The mountains were created 10-15 million years ago.
King, Queen, Prince and Bride Balbal: These marble Balbals known as the King, the Queen, the Prince and the Bride are found in the area around Altan Ovoo. In 1988, they were listed on the national strictly protected area list. Sukhbaatar Province is home to over 60 broken Balbals and most of them are found around Moltsog Els (Area of sand dunes) in Dariganga.
