ABOUT TSENKHER CAVE PETROGLYPH<hr>The Tsenheriin cave also known as Khoid tsenher are reasonably attractive. Because of approximately 15,000 years old history (some sources say 40,000). There are numerous passages to explore with the largest cavern being about 15m high, with the floor measuring around 12m by 18m. Unfortunately, some recent graffiti has marred the cave paintings. Controversy has erupted among experts about the interpretation of the paintings. It is interesting that both ostriches and mammoths are depicted on the walls, proving that both lived in Mongolia up to approximately 15,000 years ago.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fgurvan_tsenheriin_agui.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=b665e379-4f4e-44c8-b235-5078daae0ac2"></figure>

The Tsenheriin cave also known as Khoid tsenher are reasonably attractive. Because of approximately 15,000 years old history (some sources say 40,000). There are numerous passages to explore with the largest cavern being about 

TSENKHER CAVE PETROGLYPH

ABOUT UVS LAKE &amp; UVS NUUR BASIN<hr>Uvs lake is the northernmost of the enclosed basins of Central Asia. It is enclosed on the north (Tuva) by the Tannu Ola Range and the Sangilen Mountains in the north-east. The main feeder to Uvs lake is the Tes-Khem River, which has its source in a fresh-water lake, Sangyn Dalai Nuur, in the alpine meadows and larch forests of the Sangilen uplands at the eastern extremity of the basin (in Mongolia). The Tes-Khem then flows 500 km westwards, through steppe and desert, into southern Tuva, and then back into Mongolia, before emptying into Uvs lake. For its last 100 km, the river meanders through an extensive wetland complex, a green swathe in an otherwise semi-desert landscape; its delta is some 40 km wide and is an important wildlife habitat. Uvs is relatively shallow (10-20 m depth) and very saline and alkaline. In all, the lakes display a range of hydrological characteristics, water quality and biomass productivity. Uvs is the ‘sea’ of western Mongolia; it is frequented by a range of seabirds, even though the nearest ocean is 3,000 km away.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2FUvs_lake_basin.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=9ba360f5-b632-4fcf-b61d-f1b3cdff7165"></figure>The Uvs lake basin has an extraordinary temperature range; the lowest winter temperature in western Mongolia (-58 °C) has been recorded here but summer temperatures can rise to 40 °C. Within the site there are nine strictly protected areas, representing the main ecosystems. Two of the Mongolian protected areas, Turgen Uul and Tsagaan Shuvuut, also lie in the western mountains, which have shown the presence of 173 bird and 41 mammal species within their boundaries. Both are important habitats for the endangered snow leopard and there is active research into the conservation of this species. Other important mammals are large herbivores such as the Asiatic ibex, Argali sheep, wild boar, red deer and musk deer and the Mongolian and black-tailed gazelle; predators include wolf, red fox, lynx, polecat and weasel, and many different kites, falcons, eagles and vultures. Within the ecologically-diverse Uvs Nuur site, some 359 bird species have been recorded.The vegetation also reflects the conjunction of the Siberian and Central Asian floras, with 19 species endemic to Tuva and Mongolia, 51 relict species and 94 plant species classified as rare.The Uvs Nuur basin has a rich historical and cultural heritage. The site has also important for cultural heritage status; largely on the basis of 2,900 sites containing burial mounds (kurgans) and stone tablets (steles), many of late Palaeolithic age. Historically, a large proportion of the Eurasian steppe would have undergone a vegetation succession to forest as the post-glacial climate became warmer – had wild herbivores and humans not worked to maintain the grassland environment. There is a close relationship between the domesticated grazing animals (traditionally sheep, cattle, goats and horses) and the grassland plants of the steppes, a relationship which has moulded this landscape over thousands of years. The increasing domestication of livestock supplemented (and supplanted) the wild grazing animals of the steppe – such as Przewalski’s horse, the Saiga antelope and the wild Bactrian camel. Over the millennia, the nomadic seasonal herding patterns transferred plants and nutrients spatially within the steppe ecosystems. Some grasses and herbs will have been eliminated; others will have thrived. Soil organic matter gradually accumulated as plant leaf litter, dead roots and animal excreta were decomposed and their constituent nutrients recycled back into new plant growth.

Uvs lake is the northernmost of the enclosed basins of Central Asia. It is enclosed on the north (Tuva) by the Tannu Ola Range and the Sangilen Mountains in the north-east. The main feeder to Uvs lake is the Tes-Khem River

UVS LAKE & UVS NUUR BASIN

ABOUT KAZAKH ETHNIC GROUP<hr>Bayan-Ulgii is a unique place in Mongolia, home of the Kazakh ethnic group. The Kazakhs have a rich culture, close extended families, and many traditions that are still practiced today that are centuries old. Kazakh is the language of everyday communication, with Mongolian used for inter-ethnic interactions and official communication. Islam is the primary religion of the Kazakhs. Today, many Kazakhs in Bayan-Ulgii maintain traditional semi-nomadic herding by moving with their animals several times a year, and living in a Kazakh style ger (larger and taller than a Mongolian ger) during the summer. All Kazakhs keep close ties to extended families. Tradition requires that one must not marry anyone related within 9 generations. As a result, upon meeting each other, Kazakhs always tell if and how they are related. This is not their only tradition, though.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fkazakhs_family.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=cc946a6d-77d2-4ae4-8489-295be32da921"></figure>Kazakhs are famous around the world for their intricately embroidered wall hangings (tuskies) used on ger (yurt) walls. A typical ger may have 5 to 7 wall hangings that can take 200 hours to hand stitch each. The curving designs of the wall hangings are patterned after goat horns which symbolize the primary source of wealth of the nomadic herder. This design is used for a wide variety of traditional clothes, home furnishings, and accessories. The Kazakhs are not only known for their artwork, but also for their incredible friendliness.

Bayan-Ulgii is a unique place in Mongolia, home of the Kazakh ethnic group. The Kazakhs have a rich culture, close extended families, and many traditions that are still practiced today that are centuries old. 

KAZAKH ETHNIC GROUP

ABOUT THROAT SINGING<hr>The art of Mongolian throat singing is a style in which one or more pitches sound simultaneously over a fundamental pitch, producing a unique sound. The history of Mongolian throat singing reaches very far back. Many of the male herders can throat sing, but women are beginning to practice the technique as well. The popularity of throat singing among Mongolian seems to have arisen as a result of geographic location and culture. The open landscape of Mongolia allows for the sounds to carry a great distance. Ethnomusicologistsstudying throat singing in these areas mark khoomei as an integral part in the ancient pastoral animism that is still practiced today. Often, singers will travel far into the countryside looking for the right river, or will go up to the steppes of the mountainside to create the proper environment for throat-singing. And you have chance to see that in western Mongolia! Our local agency can manage you best trip in Western Mongolia!<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2FThroat_Singing_mongolia.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=ad92fa62-53fb-4094-a112-5f78309e8d79"></figure>

The art of Mongolian throat singing is a style in which one or more pitches sound simultaneously over a fundamental pitch, producing a unique sound. The history of Mongolian throat singing reaches very far back

THROAT SINGING

THE ABOUT EAGLE HUNTER<hr>Hunting with eagles is a traditional form of falconry found throughout the Eurasian Steppe, practiced by the Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz in contemporary Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as diasporas in Bayan-Ulgii Provinces Bayan-Ulgii, Mongolia, and Xinjiang, China. Though these people are most famous for hunting with golden eagles, they have been known to train northern goshawks, peregrine falcons, saker falcons, and more. In both Kazakh and Kyrgyz, there are separate terms for those who hunt with birds of prey in general, and those who hunt with eagles. In Kazakh, both qusbegi and sayatshy refer to falconers in general. Qusbegi comes from the words qus bird and bek lord, thus literally translating as lord of birds. In Old Turkic, kush begiwas a title used for the khan’s most respected advisors, reflecting the valued role of the court falconer. Sayatshy comes from the word sayat falconry and the suffix -shy, used for professional titles in Turkic languages. The Kazakh word for falconers that hunt with eagles is búrkitshy, from búrkit golden eagle, while the word for those that use goshawks is qarshyghashy, from qarshygha goshawk. In Kyrgyz, the general word for falconers is münüshkör. A falconer who specifically hunts with eagles is a bürkütchü, from bürküt golden eagle.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2FEagle_hunters.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=09889a5e-fd28-4dcc-a7a8-5e8a2c8aeb76"></figure>&nbsp;GOOD TO KNOW<hr><figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2FHunters.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=cc36c4ce-6853-4947-a2c2-75079c6e8f4b"></figure>KHITANSIn 936-45 AD the Khitans, a nomadic people from Manchuria, conquered part of north China. In 960 AD China was conquered by the Song dynasty. From its beginnings, the Song dynasty was unable to completely control the Khitan who had already assimilated much of Chinese culture. Throughout its 300-year rule of China, the Song had to pay tribute to the Khitan to keep them from conquering additional Song territory. Despite the fact that the Khitans assimilated Chinese culture, they retained many nomadic traditions, including eagle hunting (see the unknown Chinese painting from Song dynasty).&nbsp;JURCHENMany Jurchen tribes hunted the hai dong qing, the Khitan tried to take the eagle hunting for themselves by force, but it did not end in the Khitan’s favour. The Jurchen started a revolt against them, which let them regain access to the hai dong qing that they hunted previously.&nbsp;KYRGYZIn 1207, the Kyrgyz nomads surrendered to Genghis Khan’s son Jochi. Under Mongol rule, the Kyrgyz preserved their nomadic culture as well as eagle falconry tradition until the 79. Archaeologists trace back falconry in Central Asia to the first or second millennium BC.&nbsp;KAZAKHSDuring the communist period in Kazakhstan, many Kazakhs fled for Mongolia, settling in Bayan-Ulgii Province and bringing with them their tradition of hunting with eagles. There are an estimated 250 eagle hunters in Bayan-Ulgii, which is located in the Altai Mountains of western Mongolia.&nbsp;&nbsp;GOLDEN EAGLE FESTIVALTheir falconry custom involves hunting with golden eagles on horseback, and they primarily hunt red foxes and corsac foxes. They use eagles to hunt foxes and hares during the cold winter months when it is easier to see the gold colored foxes against the snow. Each October, Kazakh eagle hunting customs are displayed at the annual Golden Eagle Festival. Although the Kazakh government has made efforts to lure the practitioners of these Kazakh traditions back to Kazakhstan, most Kazakhs have remained in Mongolia.

Hunting with eagles is a traditional form of falconry found throughout the Eurasian Steppe, practiced by the Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz in contemporary Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as diasporas in Bayan-Ulgii Provinces

THE EAGLE HUNTER

ABOUT ALTAI TAVAN BOGD NATIONAL PARK<hr>Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is located on the Western most point of Mongolia in Bayan-Ulgii Province. This vast mountainous park borders China and Russia with views of Kazakhstan from the highest peak in Mongolia.The people living inside the park are one of the main draws. Kazakhs and Tuvan nomadic herders live inside the park and visiting them is part of most tours. The Kazakhs are the most numerous and the ones that do eagle hunting. They are known for their colorful large ger with rich embroidered wall hangings and their warm hospitality. Tuvans occupy the Tsagaan Gol valley and have different clothes, food, and language than Mongols. Tuvan men sing deep eerie long-songs using throat-singing, though very few Tuvans in this isolated pocket have mastered the art. Kazakhs live around the lake, as well as Tsagaan Salaa and Takhiltyn Havtsal (and most of the rest of the park). Those living inside the park have retained their traditional culture to a greater degree than probably any Kazakh in Central Asia. They have preserved their arts and music, and have practiced the ancient sport of eagle hunting continuously throughout the Soviet era when it was suppressed elsewhere.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Faltai_tavan_bogd_mountain.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=074c0f05-ccec-4a37-a87c-883ed8a42603"></figure>&nbsp;ALTAI TAVAN BOGD MOUNTAINThe Tavan Bogd /five saints/ is a mountain massif in Mongolia, near the triple border with China and Russia. Its highest peak, the Khüiten Peak (formerly also known as Nairamdal Peak), is the highest point of Mongolia at 4374 meters above sea level. The Tavan Bogd massif is located mostly within the Bayan-Ulgii Province of Mongolia its northern slopes are in Russia’s Altai Republic, and western, in China’s Burqin County. Besides the Khüiten Peak, the Tavan Bogd massif includes four other peaks: Nairamdal, Malchin, Bürged (eagle) and Ulgii (motherland).&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fkhuiten_peak.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=1aca9911-23e7-4715-95ee-f73f4974983a"></figure>PEAKS<ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>KHUITEN PEAK /4374M/</li><li>NAIRAMDAL PEAK /4180M/</li><li>BURGED PEAK /4068M/</li><li>ULGII PEAK /4050M/</li><li>MALCHIN PEAK /4050M/</li></ul>POTANIN GLACIERThere are many glaciers in Mongolia on Altai range. Biggest glacier in Mongolia is Potanin Glacier on Altai Tavan Bogd national park. It’s 20 km long, and it hase huge ice rivers on it.&nbsp;Activities with glacier are: You can walk on the glacier with expert tour guide, take photos, experience it, camp just next to glacier! (sunset on Glacier)&nbsp;WHITE RIVER VALLEY<figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fwhite_river.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=7f9d4473-fa5f-476c-b1cb-f3bed2f21c4e"></figure>White River Valley (Tsagaan gol) is place where the 4 season of the weather in one hour, where the mountains are meeting the sky and friendly Tuvan nomads showing you unexpected hospitality. This heaven located in very western part of Mongolia where Russian, Chinese and Mongolian Altai mountains are joining and Mongolian side of the mountains lasting with long Potanin glacier. But, the White River coming from that glacier and coming across all way through Western Mongolia and ending at Black lake in Hovd province.&nbsp;KHOTON AND KHURGAN LAKELocated in the northern part of the Altai mountain range, near the Chinese border, in Bayan-Ulgii, the westernmost of the provinces of Mongolia, Khurgan and Khoton are 2 lakes situated at an elevation of more than 2.000m. The road to the lakes, located in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, is gravel. It’s narrow, steep, and impassable in winters. Do not travel this pass in severe weather conditions. Avalanches, heavy snowfalls and landslides can occur anytime, being extremely dangerous due to frequent patches of ice. &nbsp;From October the surface of the lakes starts to freeze, creating then 1.3-1.6 m ice thickness. Khurgan Lake lies at an elevation of 2,072m above the sea level, and Khoton Lake at 2,084m. It has a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards, and driving under these conditions, can be extremely challenging. One of the most challenging parts of the route is a small wooden bridge over the lakes, with a length of 100m. This bridge tests the skill, and courage, of any driver. It’s definitely not for anyone suffering from vertigo and there’s little room for error on this section.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fkhoton_lake.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=d6dff3ce-68ac-420e-b196-f09f5f95f98d"></figure>It lies at the foot of the Altai Mountains near the Chinese border, at an elevation of about 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level. It is fed by the Khuiten River from the east and other rivers from the north. With an area of 50 square kilometres (19 sq mi), it is the country’s twenty-sixth largest lake by surface area. It has a maximum depth of 8.58 metres (28.1 ft). The lake is home to abundant fish life.&nbsp;BAGA TURGEN WATERFALL ​<figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fbaga_turgen_waterfall.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=8dc8c6df-8344-460c-b7dc-53c056f5cca2"></figure>In Altai Tavan Bogd National Park located very easy accessible waterfall in Baga Turgen valley around Khoton and Khurgan Nuur area. This waterfall formed from small glaciers up the Altai range mountain and flows through local Kazakh nomads. This is very beautiful spot with gorges mountains and different lifestyles around. As easy to get there it is very good for short hiking through local Kazakh nomads meet their everyday activity, visit the waterfall, enjoy the perfect landscapes and even swim under that waterfall.&nbsp;BEAR VALLEYBear Valley is most amazing and spectacular place with fantastic landscapes, surrounded with green snow caped mountains with several waterfalls and crystal clear lakes that located in southwest of Altai Tavan bogd national park. This place is non accessible by any jeeps or transports as there are no special road to there. But during the early nomadic years people were using this valley as a short cut between their winter place and summer places when they are migrating with packed camels and all livestock. And they were going through dramatic mountains, wild animals, beautiful lakes and wide and white rivers as milk that dividing the valley into two. Since that time this place was protected very well and path that left from this migration is now used for our horse riding and trekking itineraries. Of course for our trek we will use very old way of transportation which is packed camels and horses just like how local nomads do!&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fbaga_oygir_petroglyphs.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=b39f1278-4658-4a64-b10a-f8ba808c7c67"></figure>DAYAN LAKEThe lake borders the north-western side of the Öndör Khairkhan Mountain range. Lakeside small areas of deciduous forest. From the lake originate a tributary of the Khovd River. The lake sits 2,232 meters above sea level, covering an area of 67 km2. Best destination area for fishing.&nbsp;BAGA OIGOR PETROGLYPHSThe Tsagaan Salaa River flows into the Baga Oigor in the far western region of Bayan Olgiy aimag in the Mongolian Altay Mountains. As the joint Mongolian, American, Russian project “Altay” which began in 1994 determined, along the lower Tsagaan Salaa and upper Baga Oigor, is “one of the largest rock art complexes in North and Central Asia, and the richest in terms of chronological age, quantity, and quality of imagery” There are images of various animal species, hunting scenes, and scenes depicting aspects of human life in the region. We can see humans riding and leading animals, loaded caravans and schematic drawings of what we assume are enclosures. Certain imagery seems clearly to have had some kind of religious/ritual significance (for example, bell-shaped anthropomorphs and birthing scenes, arguably amongst the earliest of the images. A great deal of the imagery may be connected with human and animal reproduction. While precise dating is impossible, there are plausible hypotheses which correlate certain themes with different periods, reflecting changes in climate and the patterns of human activity. Thus, some of the drawings arguably pre-date domestication of animals; the petroglyphs document a shift from dependence on hunting to pastoral nomadism in the period between about 2000 BCE (Bronze Age) and 1000 BCE (early Iron Age). At a certain point, chariots or wagons were being used and their images pecked into the rocks. Scenes with animals being ridden are arguably later.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is located on the Western most point of Mongolia in Bayan-Ulgii Province. This vast mountainous park borders China and Russia with views of Kazakhstan from the highest peak in Mongolia.

ALTAI TAVAN BOGD NATIONAL PARK

ABOUT TOLBO LAKE<hr>Tolbo lake is fresh water lake in south of Olgii in western Mongolia and also known as one of biggest lakes in western Mongolia. It extends on 185 square kilometres (71,43 miles) in the heart of the Altai range, at more than 2000 metres (1,24 mile) above the sea level. During the Winter, it’s possible to move on the iced lake. The lake was the witness of the battle of Tolbo lake (1921) during the Russian civil war, when the Bolsheviks allied to the Mongolians defeated a White Russians army. You can spot by the lake a couple of memorial plaques. Lake is just amazing for fishing activities!<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Ftolbo_lake.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=2e1efa08-993f-410c-a3fb-1ac6927fcf64"></figure>

Tolbo lake is fresh water lake in south of Olgii in western Mongolia and also known as one of biggest lakes in western Mongolia. It extends on 185 square kilometres (71,43 miles) in the heart of the Altai range,

TOLBO LAKE

ABOUT ULAAGCHIN KHAR LAKE<hr>Ulaagchnii Khar Lake has been protected as Strictly Protected Area since 2010. Ulaagchnii Khar lake is located in the northeast of Erdenemandal soum in western plateau of Khangai Mountain Range. This lake is fresh water lake and one of the most beautiful lakes of the country. We can see amazing sand dunes in the southern and northern parts of the lake. The lake is 23.9m long and 3.5m wide in average. Depth of the lake is 47m in the west 23-30m in the east and the deepest point is 57m near the Gatsaa. There are 2 big and small island called “Small and Big Avgash” in the middle of the lake. Great Avgash is quite sandy and suitable place for the roedeer for their rebirth in springs, they habitat in the mountain in the autumn.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Fkhar_nuur.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=b1f83910-7ed3-48cd-ad9e-bd6b007b1e25"></figure>

Ulaagchnii Khar Lake has been protected as Strictly Protected Area since 2010. Ulaagchnii Khar lake is located in the northeast of Erdenemandal soum in western plateau of Khangai Mountain Range.

ULAAGCHIN KHAR LAKE

ABOUT TSAMBAGARAV MOUNTAIN<hr>Tsambagarav national park is suppurated huge sacred mountain from Altai range. This mountain is 4165 M higher with snow on the top whole year and located on the border between Bayan-Olgii and Hovd provinces, The park has beautiful scenery, rich wildlife, plenty of archeological sites, and native nomadic Kazakh and Uriankhai herders living in the shadow of the holey mountain. These glaciers have left deep rocky gorges that have many waterfalls including one 7 m (23 ft) one on the north side of the park. During summer, the valleys north of the mountain are very green and full of wildlife, livestock, and flowers. Below the peaks are many glaciers and glacial lakes. The endangered species; Argali sheep, Ibex, Snow Leopard, Rock Ptarmigan and Altai Snowcock all inhabit the park. Though not all can easily be found, especially the snow leopard. The Altai subspecies of the Argali sheep that is found in the park is the largest wild sheep in the world. The rams of an adult male can weigh over 35 kg (75 lbs).<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2Ftsambagarav_mount.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=657ac925-469f-4b32-b207-c62e633e3289"></figure>

Tsambagarav national park is suppurated huge sacred mountain from Altai range. This mountain is 4165 M higher with snow on the top whole year and located on the border between Bayan-Olgii and Hovd provinces,

TSAMBAGARAV MOUNTAIN

HISTORICAL SIGHTS<hr>Bayan-Ulgii has been a crossroads throughout history for empires, conquerors, and trade routes. Just north of the fabled Silk Road; Turks, Scythians, Huns, Tuvans, Uighurs, Mongols, and Kazakhs have left their mark on this vast land. The region has been occupied for over 12,000 years. Descendents of Turkic tribes that currently occupy a territory stretching from Siberia to Turkey originated in the Altai Mountains around Bayan-Olgii around 2000 BC. Later Scythian nomadic warriors expanded out of the Altai Mountains after 700 BC eventually reaching the Black Sea and modern day Ukraine. Their power declined after Alexander the Great defeated them in a battle in 329 BC in what is now Tajikistan.<figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/kerege-travel.appspot.com/o/ckeditor%2FKhoton_lake_balbal_stones.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=3f4b5b9a-769e-42bc-91c7-c1ee7bcbd39f"></figure>After the Scythians, the Huns migrated from the steppes of Mongolia to Europe around 100 AD and caused much havoc in the Roman Empire around 400 AD under Attila the Hun. Reindeer herding tribes called the Tuvans first appeared in the Siberian forest north of the Altai Mountains. Their descendents can be found in the same area today with a large population in Tsengel Soum. The Altai Mountains and the nearby Silk Road were controlled by Turkic-Uighur tribes after the 6th Century. This lasted until the great Mongol Empire swept through in the 13th Century stretching from Korea to the Poland. The area remained under the control of Mongol khans until the Kazakhs kingdom was founded in the 15th Century, which remained in power until the Chinese and Russians expanded their empires in the 19th Century. Thanks to a cold dry climate and a sparse population, many of the artifacts from these ancient empires remain in pristine condition. Surveys of the region have estimated there to be hundreds of thousands of petroglyphs, including concentrations of several thousand in some canyons, plus over a thousand stone monuments, around 50 “deer stones,” and numerous tombs, burial mounds, ancient graves, and other sites. Petroglyphs from Turkic tribes and the Huns dating from 10,000 BC to around 100 AD help archeologists trace the evolution of hunter gatherers to pastoralists to the semi-nomadic herders. Through these images etched onto cave walls, one can see the roots of modern ger-dwelling herders that live in the mountain valleys and steppes of Bayan-Ulgii to this day. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Bayan-Ulgii has been a crossroads throughout history for empires, conquerors, and trade routes. Just north of the fabled Silk Road; Turks, Scythians, Huns, Tuvans, Uighurs, Mongols, and Kazakhs have left their mark on this vast land. 