ABOUT KHORGO EXTINC VOLCANO MOUNTAIN

Khorgo Mountain is a dormant volcano which lies on the east of the Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. The Khorgo crater, situated at an altitude of 2.210 meters with a diameter of 20 meters and depth of 70 to 80 meters, is the most interesting at all. The Khorgo volcano is covered with basalt. The northern slope is covered with Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica). It has been protected since 1965, fully in 1997, to safeguard spectacular mountain scenery and endangered fauna and flora. There is no lake in this crater, but clouds of steam jet out it is crevices forming ice moulds in winter, which from a distance look like large flocks of sheep scattered on the mountain. Near the crater there are dozens of small caverns with stalactites hanging from their ceiling and walls. About 8000 years ago volcanic lava flooded the valleys nearby which are covered today with small forests of Siberian larch and a great variety of berries and flowers. In the woods there are lots of deer, wild goat and other animals, as well as various kinds of birds such as Red Deer, Siberian Deer, Wild Boar, Ruddy Shelduck and Duck.

Located in Tariat sum, Arkhangai province. About origin of fresh watered Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, flowing of north and south Terkh Rivers locked by lava flow from a volcanic eruption. The length of lake is 16 km; width is 6-10 km, 20m deep, 2060 m above sea level and occupied 61 sq.km. The biggest river which is one of the 10 rivers, flow into lake is Terkh river. Also only one river flows from the lake is Suman River. Suman means “Arrow” because this river flows through the lake like an arrow. There is a small island at the middle of the lake, birds make their nest and lay eggs. About Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, there is interesting story. An ancient time, a mother and son were living this land and they carried their drink water from small fountain from the deep of ground. After they take some water they have to bung it. But one day son went to this fountain to take drink water but he forgot to bung it after take and he slept next to the fountain. Later some minutes this some area covered by huge water and son’s mother worried about his son and she take top of mountain named “Uran mandal”, bung the fountain. Since that time this lake is exist here. The top of “Uran mandal” mountain is Small Island that mentioned above. Khorgiin Togoo volcano, located on the bank of Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, 180 km from center of Arkhangai province. The volcano erupted to encompass huge of sq.km area 8 thousand years ago. Around the volcano there many cauldron shaped places to hide so Khorgiin togoo name is connected to these places. Also there are some interesting places such as ice cave, “Shar nokhoin tam” (hell of yellow dog) and “Cave of a person” around the volcano. 50 sq.km of this area preserved in 1965.