Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Khövsgöl
Nuur Nation-
al Park
lake, mountains, rivers;
fish, moose, wolverines,
bears, sables, elk, roe deer
mountain biking, kayaking,
fishing, hiking, horse trekking,
birdwatching
Jun-Sep
rugged hills, Tuul River;
takhi
horses, gazelles,
deer, wolves, lynx, manul
wild cats
Khustain Na-
tional Park
trekking, wildlife spotting
Apr-Oct
Otgon Tenger
Uul Strictly
Protected
Area
mountains, rivers, lakes; ar-
gali sheep, roe deer,
wolves
horse trekking, hiking, swim-
ming
May-Sep
Mongolians collect various wild herbs and flowers for their medicinal properties: yellow
poppies to heal wounds, edelweiss to add vitamins to the blood, and feather grass to
cure an upset stomach.
Environmental Issues
Due to its sparse population and vast territory, there are huge tracts of untouched land-
scape in Mongolia. However, some pockets of the country are on the verge of an eco-dis-
aster. A rising threat on the steppes is overgrazing by livestock, especially sheep and
goats. A 2013 environmental report said that 70% of the grassland has been degraded
and 12% of Mongolia's biomass has disappeared over the past two decades. Forest fires,
nearly all of which are caused by careless human activity, are common during the windy
spring season. The fires destroy huge tracts of forest and grassland, mainly in Khentii
and Dornod aimags.
Perhaps the biggest concern is mining, which has polluted 28 river basins in eight
aimags. As one mining executive told us, parts of the Tuul River near the village of
Zaamar look like a WWI battlefield. Water usage by mines in the Gobi has prompted a
backlash by local communities. The huge Oyu Tolgoi mine in Ömnögov requires the use
of 360L of water
per second
; a group of citizens representatives in Ömnögov approved
of a ban on using underground water after 2016 (a decision the central government will
surely fight).
China's appetite for minerals is opening up new mines but another threat lies in Ch-
ina's hunt for the furs, meat and body parts of endangered animals. Chinese demand has
resulted in an 80% decline in the number of marmots and an 85% drop in the number of
saiga antelope.
