Mongolia

Khorgo – Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur Natural Park includes two jewels of Mongolia: Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur and the extinct volcano Khorgo.

Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur, ”White Lake of the Terkh River”, is located 2060 metres (1,28 miles) above the sea level. It’s the jewel of Arkhangai and one of the most beautiful lakes in the country. The eruption of Khorgo Volcano explains the presence of the lake. Besides, it’s surrounded by other extinct volcanoes. It extends on 16 kilometres (9,94 miles) long and 4 to 10 kilometres (2,49 – 6,21 miles) wide. It covers an area of 61 square kilometres (23,55 square miles), its average depth is 20 metres (65,62 feet). We can find many pikes and many other species of fish. The lake remains frozen a big part of the year. This area is still wild, you may see chitals, marsh deer, wild boars, ducks or great cormorants.

In the Khorgo – Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur Natural Park, we can also see and make the ascent of Khorgo Volcano that is an extinct volcano reaching its highest point at 2240 metres (1,39 mile), located East from Terkhiin Tsagaan. This easy 16-kilometres (9,94 miles) hike will lead you to the summit of this extinct volcano covered with basalt that was active 8000 years ago. Its crater measures 200 metres (656,17 feet) in diameter and 70 to 80 metres (229,66 – 262,47 feet) in depth, and it is surrounded with small copses of trees. It has been protected since 1965.

Around Khorgo Volcano, there is a remarkable area, made of solidified lava bubbles; the locals name this place ”the basalt yurts”.