By Adiyabold / February 5, 2015
Khuvsgul Lake
is one of the Mongolian top places to visit and natural protected area. This is
the largest fresh water lake and traditionally Mongolians worshipped nature and
relating to it called Lake Mother. The meaning of the lake name is “Blue Water
Lake” and located Northern Mongolia bordering with Russia. It is 1,645 metres above sea level, 136 kilometres long and 262
metres deep. It is the second-most biggest freshwater lake in Asia, and holds almost 70% of Mongolia's fresh water
and 0.4% of all the fresh water in the world. There are around 46 rivers inflows
to Khuvsgul lake and It is drained at the
south end by the Egiin Gol, which connects to the Selenge and ultimately into Lake
Baikal. Between the two lakes, the water travels a distance of more than 1,000 km. But the direct
distance between Bakal Lake and Khuvsgul Lake is only 200 km. The lake is considered old lake and
estimated to 2 million years old.
Because of
locating in the middle of high mountains and highly elevated the lake is mostly
cold even in the hottest summer. During
the winter the lake freezes and the thickness of ice is 1.4 meters strong
enough to carry trucks. The ice melts in June. Therefore the best period to
visiting the lake is July through September to see the beautiful combination of
blue water, green forest mountains and blue sky.
In the south
side of the lake has Khatgal village and along the west side most of the
tourist Ger Camps located. In order to get the ger camp along the edge of the
lake we drive over mountain on dirt road. The scenery is beautiful, even though
there are and wild animals such as boar, wild rain deer, bear, roe deer but
hard to find them. But we see mostly yaks and cows in the trees pasturing.
Once we
reach the lake it is admiring to see abundant of water as clear as crystal.
There aren’t many fishes and plants as in Baikal Lake but there are grayling,
lenok, roach, cod, and perch can found. The fishing for industrial purpose is
prohibited but for sport and hobby yes.
There are
ancient nomadic tribes has been living along the lake shore for centuries and
today local nomadic families migrate around the area and herd yak, cow, horse
and sheep. But most of the rein deer herders habituated to farther north and
few families live along the lake and lucky for us to see and visit them. Some
of the households practice shaman.
Staying at the Ger camp along the lake side and
visiting local herders, hiking to the up hills or riding horse is valuable
vacation idea in Mongolia.
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