Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake National Park
LOCATION: 660 km from Ulaanbaatar, 180 km northwest of Tsetserleg town, and just 4 km from Tariat soum (administrative unit) of Arkhangai province.
One of the natural highlights of Arkhangai province, the awe-inspiring Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park comprises of two famous attractions: Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake or Great White Lake and dormant volcano Khorgo.
77267 hectares of Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake area is extremely rich in wildlife and flora, which was designated as a national park to protect the spectacular mountain scenery and endangered species.
2210 m high Khorgo volcano is one of the 10 volcanoes in the national park, became extinct about 8000 years ago. The larch tree forest covers the northern slope of the volcano while its crater is 200 m in diameter, with a depth of 70-80 m.
Visitors climb the volcano on stairs and trails, and upon reaching the top, walk along the volcano rim with outstanding views of surrounding areas; a small village can be seen from the volcano as well as a bird’s eye view of Terhkiin Tsagaan Lake.
Astonishingly beautiful, the clear water lake Terkhiin Tsagaan formed after lava flows from the volcanoes blocked the north and south water access from the Terkh Rivers. The lake is renowned for its fish and birdlife, including the Ruddy Shellduck and Great Cormorant. There are 8 more inflows to the lake while only the Suman River sources out. The lake is 16 km long, 6-10 km wide, 20m deep, and lies 2060 m above sea level.
There are some local family-run guest gers and ger camps (available between early June and late September) along the northern and eastern shores of the lake.
It is amazing to see the nomads settled on the slopes of the mountains in the south overlooking the beautifully calm lake. The national park is packed with nomads and their fenceless grazing herds of livestock including countless yaks.
Afternoon swimming in the lake, trekking, mountain climbing, fishing (need a permit), bird watching, motor boating, horse trekking, and nomad life experiences are the possibilities in the national park.
It is advised to wear comfortable shoes and bring a windbreaker as the weather tends to be inflexible there.
