KHÖVSGÖL

a pristine lake in northern Mongolia

By Kim Lau

Khovsgol Aimag (province) lies in the north-western part of Mongolia and the the Aimag derived its name from the mighty Khovsgol Nuur (lake), an East Siberian Tiaga (forest) ecosystem.The region has pristine nature, and the half-frozen lake in June adds much character to the area. The cove of Jangkhai reveals the pristine nature, with easily accessible tracking routes for a panoramic view of the lake from the mountain summit. A peninsular protrudes the cove, an extremely scenic area and also nesting grounds for the birds. Further up the western shore of the lake is Kharus, June comes it will be packed with Mongolian families. It is believed that the springs at Kharus have special healing power in June, and locals come here to feed on the medicinal springs and fishes.

DAWN AT JANGKAI

Sun rises at 5 a.m. and sets at 9 p.m. in the summer. This is a glimpse of dawn at the foot of the protrusion of Jangkhai peninsular.

LAYERED ICE SHEETS

Ice from the melting lake of Khövsgöl are intricate in formation. Floating slabs are rigid but non dense, and they reaches a couple of metres in height at some locations. Current pushes ice against the shore, creating these unique ice sheets.

HORSES AND WOODEN GUR

Glowing marshland in the wee morning hours, Jangkhia peninsular of lake Khövsgöl. Horses beautifully lighted, with wooden gur in the background.

GATEWAY TO JANGKAI

On the path circumscribing the lagoon of Jangkhai peninsular, tree formations resembling a gate, to the black-head gull nesting colony

TIP OF JANGKAI PENINSULAR

At the tip of the peninsular is a bird nesting paradise, mainly black-head gulls.

BLACK-HEAD GULL COLONY

Black-head gulls are noisy, and I was drawn to this location by sound. Scenic and tranquil, the gulls are accompanied by a pair of swan

BATNIM RIDING THROUGH MIST

Fog rushed into the cove of Jangkhai at lake Khövsgol in minutes. 2 hours post sunrise. It rained haviy the night before, with much moisture in the air, cooled by the half frozen lake and heated by the morning sun. Batnim came greeting with his bicycle and fully dressed with his Mongolian del.

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FISHY BUSINESS

A Mongolian family cleans the harvested fishes along the a stream in Kharus. Fishes swims upstream in the night that faciliates harvesting.

FISH ROE, FISH FRIED & FISH SMOKE

Fishes spawn along in the spring streams at Kharus in June, producing rich roe. Freshly fried and still juicy for eating. Excess fishes are prepared for smoking.