Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NATIONAL PARKS OF SÜKHBAATAR
Dornod Mongol Strictly Protected Area (570,374 hectares) Holds one of the last
great plain ecosystems on earth, protecting seas of feather-grass steppe and 70%
of Mongolia's white-tailed gazelle, whose large herds are under threat due to oil
drilling and poaching.
Ganga Nuur Nature Reserve (28,000 hectares; Click here ) Protects dunes and
the Ganga Nuur, an important habitat for migrating swans.
Lkhachinvandad Uul Nature Reserve (58,500 hectares) On the border with Ch-
ina, this steppe area has plenty of gazelle and elk.
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Baruun-Urt
7051, 01512 / POP 16,130 / ELEV 981M
Sükhbaatar's compact capital is located smack in the middle of eastern Mongolia's vast
plains. It's a fairly desolate location, with no river or lake nearby, ferocious winters and
scorching summers. However, the revenue from the nearby Chinese-funded zinc mine
makes a welcome appearance in the form of paved streets, funky street lights (though
only half of them seem to work), and a clean bus station.
The devil would feel right at home here due to the high levels of sulphur in the soil;
the rest of us are better off buying bottled water.
Sights
Ethnography Museum MUSEUM
(admission T3000; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri) Baruun-Urt's museum has a fine collection of cos-
tumes representing the three ethnic groups that inhabit the region: the Khalkh (the major-
ity), the Dariganga (around 30,000 live in the south of Sükhbaatar aimag) and the
Uzemchin (about 2000 live in Dornod aimag and Sükhbaatar aimag). Look out for the
brass-studded Uzemchin wrestling jacket.
There are also beautiful examples of products from Dariganga's renowned silversmiths
and blacksmiths, some stuffed gazelle, and two rooms dedicated to the famed poet, au-
thor and politician Ochirbatyn Dashbalbar (1957-99), including his electric razor and re-
cord collection.
 
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