The Menen steppe stretches like a feather grass sea to the east of Buir Lake. It is one of the last large, still intact steppes on earth. Pristine nature and rare flora and fauna characterize the picture. The Mongolian gazelle, an antelope species that is represented here with thousands of specimens, spreads from here, among other things. The gazelles come here especially in winter because the ground is kept free of snow due to the permanent wind, making it easier to forage.
The gazelle is the most common steppest animal in Asia and is very persistent. Fortunately, the animals do not damage the sensitive steppe because they do not eat everything in one place but move on and on. The step region is almost perfect for the gazelle since it feeds on only a few plant species, consumes drinking water in the form of grasses, and, due to its speed, can travel even longer at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour. Stretch there is grass here as far as the eye can see, but neither trees nor people. If the grass is dry, there is a risk of fire. In the absence of other options, the clutch of many birds is simply placed on the floor. Because of the swamp, there are also plenty of insects, so mosquito repellent is essential in the summer months.
Birds of prey also find plenty of food, and you can watch them on their prey. The region also offers a home to other animals such as the lynx, the Mongolian gerbil, or the fox. It is due to vegetation and topography that wolves, musk oxen, wild dogs, raccoons, and Pallas cats find a habitat here. Even smaller rodents like mountain weasels, tolai and whistle rabbits, and dwarf hamsters feel at home here. The calm is almost meditative and the undulating grasses give the visitor the feeling that heaven and earth merge seamlessly. Unfortunately, there is often a risk of fire, which then endangers the gazelle population.
