From HovdTravel
[edit] Natural Parks and Areas of Interest
Hovd aimag has a treasure trove of natural parks, reserves, and other places of interest. For more information on the individual parks please follow the links provided. The largest, and most famous of which is (1) Khar Us Nuur National Park, which stretches across 5 of Hovd's soums, and encompasses all of Hovd aimag's major lakes, including Khar Us Nuur, the second largest freshwater lake in Mongolia. The 8,503 sq km park is home to 54 species of mammals, 270 species of birds, and 5 species of fish. A 3,000T park permit fee applies.
Within Khar Us Nuur National Park is the permanently snow-capped (2) Jargalant Khairkhan Mountain. The mountain is technically still part of the Mongol Altai Mountain Range, but it stands alone, looming over Khar Us Lake. The mountain is home to the renowned Jargalant Orgil Herders' Community Group, as well as Mongolia's tallest waterfall in the Rashaantyn Am Valley. The area supports critical habitats for the Snow Leopard and Ibex, among others.
Located entirely within Mankhan soum is the (3) Mankhan Natural Reserve (officially known as the Sharga Mankhan Natural Reserve), about 70 km southeast of Hovd City on the main road between Hovd City and Ulaanbaatar. The reserve was established in 1996 to protect the Mongolian Saiga.
(4) The Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area (sometimes referred to as "Gobi B") is in the southernmost portion of Hovd, mostly in Hovd aimag's Altai soum, though also extends eastward into Govi Altai aimag. 300 km from Hovd city, the area was designed to protect gazelles, jerboas, takhi (the Przewalski horses), and wild asses.
Also in the south of Hovd, but located between Bulgan soum center and the soum's western border with China is the (5) Bulgan Gol Natural Reserve. The reserve was established in 1965 as a protected area for the Eurasian beaver, silver-tipped black sable, and stone marten, and was the starting ground for the more than 40-year effort to introduce the Eurasian beaver into new habitats in western Mongolia.
In the heart of the Mongolian Altai Mountain Range in Munkhkhairkhan soum, one will find the (6) Munkhkhairkhan Uul National Park. At 4,362 meters (14,311 feet), Munkhkhairkhan Uul is the second tallest mountain in Mongolia after Altai Tavan Bogd in Bayan Ulgii aimag.
Some of Hovd's most unique attractions are the cave paintings at (7) Tsenkheriin Agui in Mankhan soum, a little less than 100 km southeast of Hovd City. The paintings are believed to be 15,000 years old, which would date them in the late Stone Age. These red-ochre cave drawings depict a wide variety of animals, from camels, sheep, bulls, ibex, and even something that seems to represent an ostrich in one of the alcoves.
On the border between Hovd aimag and Bayan Ulgii is the (8) Khukh Serkhiin Nuruu Strictly Protected Area. The name Khukh Serkhiin Nuruu literally means "Mountain Range of the Castrated Blue Goat". The range is home to many threatened and endangered animals such as Argali Sheep, Ibex, Snow Leopard, and the Altai Snowcock.
Northwest of Hovd City on the border with Bayan Ulgii is (9) Tsambagarav Uul National Park. The 111,000 hectare park contains one of the most famous of all of Mongolia's peaks: Tsambagarav Uul, which despite its altitude of 4,202 meters (13,786 feet) the peak is still relatively accessible with crampons (for traction) and ropes. The park contains numerous glaciers and snow-capped mountains, providing a home to diverse wildlife; it is also host to numerous Turkish stonemen and petroglyphs.
