Uvs Lake

A heavily salinized lake called Uvs Lake is located in the Uvs Nuur Basin, a tiny portion of which is in Russia. With a surface area of 3,350 km2 and an elevation of 759 m above sea level, it is the largest lake in Mongolia by area. The Tuva Republic of the Russian Federation is where the lake's northeastern tip is located. Ulaangom is the largest village next to the lake.

This small, extremely salty body of water is all that's left of a much larger, saltier sea that formerly spanned a far wider area. Rare creatures like the Mongolian gerbil, the endangered snow leopard, the wild sheep, and the Asiatic ibex can be found in desert and mountainous regions. The Uvs-Nuur-Basin has been designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1997.

The basin, which has a surface area of over 70,000 km2, is one of the continent's best-preserved natural steppe landscapes. The world's farthest southern tundra zone and its westernmost northern desert converge here. In comparison to Uvs Lake, the basin is home to a number of smaller lakes, all of which serve as major resting places for migrating waterfowl.

The city of Ulaangom is 40 kilometers south of Uvs and can be reached by car in an hour. Trekking, horseback riding, camel riding, rafting, kayaking, climbing, and bird-watching are some of the main pursuits that may be made at and near Uvs Lake.

Location: Uvs Nuur Basin in Mongolia with a small part in Russia