Mountaineering in Kharkhiraa
The Kharkhiraa and Turgen mountainous area is a glacier region with the possibility of hiking and mountaineering that lies southwest of Ulaangom. Easily accessible is a 3000-meter-high plateau, which lies between the two mighty and highest mountains of Uvs Aimag, the 4037-meter-high Kharkhiraa Mountain and the opposite, 3965-meter-high Turgen Mountain.
Popular destinations for mountaineers are the glaciated Kharkhiraa and the Turgen. Everywhere you can see waterfalls that are worth a hike, but the area is notorious for rapid weather Khanges and you need to be in good condition. Without a mountain guide, you should not venture into the region of the Kharkhiraa and Turgen. The area at the foot of the two mountains is also worth a hike.
Wildlife of Kharkhiraa and Turgen
The area is home to many endangered and rare animal species such as snow leopard, ibex, Argali sheep, and lynx. Coming from Ulaangom, we first head south towards Khovd. After about half an hour’s drive, turn west and orient yourself towards the small town of Tarialan, where you can refuel again. The journey continues about ten kilometers to the west.
In summer, the nomadic animals of the Khoton, Durvud, and Bayad tribes graze here. The 220 square kilometer Turgen Mountain nature reserve, which was founded in 1993, is part of a 14,000 square kilometer UNESCO snow-covered mountain in Mongolia. Their meltwater and the biosphere reserve that arises in the mountains. A fifth of the sources of several rivers supply the Uvs Lake salt lake with water.
