Nature and scenic spots in Mongolia

Nature and Scenic Viewpoints

This collection features Mongolia's most significant natural landmarks, spanning the Gobi Desert to the Khentii Mountains. Explore the fossil-rich red sandstone of the Flaming Cliffs, the massive "Singing Sands" of Khongoryn Els, and the sacred peaks of Burkhan Khaldun and Otgontenger. The list includes vast freshwater and saltwater systems like Buir and Khyargas lakes, alongside the ancient Paleolithic rock paintings of Gurvan Tsenkheriin cave. These sites highlight the country's diverse topography, from limestone formations to dramatic canyon systems.

Nature and Scenic Viewpoints — Map

Zoharby / CC-BY-SA-3.0

A

Flaming Cliffs

The Flaming Cliffs site, with the alternative Mongolian name of Mongolian: Улаан Эрэг, is a region of the Gobi Desert in the Ömnögovi…

Bouette / CC-BY-SA-3.0

B

Burkhan Khaldun

The Burkhan Khaldun is one of the Khentii Mountains in the Khentii Province of northeastern Mongolia.

Andre Felbrich / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Otgontenger

Otgontenger is the highest peak in the Khangai Mountains in Mongolia. Its summit is currently calculated to reach an elevation of 4,010…

D

Buir Lake

Buir Lake is a freshwater lake that straddles the border between Mongolia and China. It lies within the Buir Lake Depression.

E

Khar-Us Lake

Khar-Us Lake is a lake in western Mongolia in the Great Lakes Depression.

F

Khar Nuur

Khar Lake, is located in the Khovd aimag in western Mongolia's Great Lakes Depression.

G

Achit Nuur

Achit Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Uvs Aimag, Mongolia, in the west of the country.

H

Khongoryn Els

Massive sand dunes in Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park reaching heights of up to 300 meters. Known as the "Singing Sands," the dunes produce a distinct humming sound as wind moves the sand across the 100-kilometer-long range.

I

TSAGAAN SUVRAGA

An ancient seabed characterized by massive limestone and clay formations. The colorful sedimentary layers reach heights of 60 meters, creating a natural structure resembling a white stupa that changes hue based on the sun's angle.

J

Hermen-Tsav ("Mongolian sphinxes")

A remote red sandstone canyon in the Gobi Desert featuring erosion-carved rock formations. This 10-kilometer-wide site is a significant paleontological area where numerous dinosaur fossils and petrified wood have been discovered.

K

Gurvan tsenkheriin agui

This limestone cave system contains Paleolithic rock paintings dating back approximately 20,000 years. The ochre drawings depict various animals, including mammoths and ostriches, and the site is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

L

Lake Khyargas

A large saltwater lake in the Great Lakes Depression known for the Hetsuu Had rock formations. These white limestone cliffs and pillars protrude from the water, providing essential nesting grounds for migratory bird species.

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