Located in Mongolia's Great Gobi Desert, Ikh Bogd offers sights reminiscent of the Hangai region's nature, such as Nomin’s green moss plants, areas surrounded by colorful flowers, rapid rivers and streams cascading from high mountains, and lakes with unique and intriguing natural formations shaped by earthquakes.
Ikh Bogd Mountain, one of the highest peaks in the Gobi-Altai mountain range and covered with eternal snow, rises to an elevation of 3,957 meters above sea level. Stretching 70 kilometers from northwest to southeast, this mountain range is situated in the southwestern part of Mongolia, specifically in Bayankhongor Province.
The vast blue plateaus of Mongolia’s Throat, Hangor, Davkhar, Bor Uzuur, and Ukher Tolgoy, the shores of Orog Lake, the white dunes of Tol Nariin, and the sand dunes of Ikh Bulai are among the many fascinating geological formations found here.
On December 4, 1957, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 11.5 struck Ikh Bogd Mountain, leaving a 100-kilometer-long fault line that remains unhealed to this day. The mountain split, and debris fell into the Bituut Valley, damming a river and creating a lake that still exists.
More specifically, the powerful earthquake in 1957 caused one of the mountain’s peaks to collapse, blocking two river valleys and forming two beautiful lakes now known as “Blue Lake (Khökh Nuur)” and “Green Lake (Nogoon Nuur).” These lakes have become a major attraction for foreign tourists. Additionally, this region features diverse microclimates: snow accumulates at the summit even in summer, rain falls on the mid-slopes, and temperatures at the base of the valleys reach 20–30°C.
The surrounding area is home to the Great Gobi Reserve and numerous unusual natural formations. Adorned with stunning mountains such as Ikh Bogd, the Icheetai Jarangi range, Ulziit, Noyon, Tariat, and Burgaltai, the region also hosts wildlife including kulans, chamois, argali, ibexes, and many endangered species listed in the Red Book.
Due to climate change, human activities, and other negative impacts, animals such as argali, ibex, and leopards around Ikh Bogd Mountain are either facing extinction or becoming rare as they migrate. To protect them, an area of 262,856 hectares near the borders of Jinst, Bogd, Bayanlig, and Bayangovi sums (administrative districts) was designated a nature reserve under Mongolia’s parliamentary resolution No. 5 in 2008, placing it under special state protection.
Interestingly, the region features unique historical and cultural sites that captivate researchers and tourists alike. These include a khirgisuur (ancient burial mound) with a monument shaped like two intersecting fish atop Jaranbogd Mountain, the tombstone of Puntsagiin Ovoo, rock paintings and carvings at Duut, Khan, and Khanginakh, and the Bituut Ger Rock (cave).
