Khuvsgul Lake
Khuvgul Lake, freshest and deepest lake in Central Asia, is positioned in a North South direction with an oval shape. Its length is 133.4 km from north to south while widest is 39.5 km from west to east. This lake has a volume of 380 km3 and it is second in Asia and 14th largest in the world. Khuvsgul Lake contains 93.6 % of total surface fresh water of Mongolia and 1% of world fresh water. Khuvsgul Lake is surrounded by beautiful high mountains of the Khoridol Saridag and Bayan Mountain Ranges, along the west shore. Many mountain rivers flow into this lake including 17 rivers flowing during the whole year. Flat-topped mountains with sloping mountainsides, covered by forests, lie on the east shore of the lake and those mountains are sources of 29 rivers flowing into Khuvsgul Lake.
The Munkh Saridag Mountain Range, the highest mountains in Khuvsgul province, are along the north shore of this lake. South part of Khuvsgul Lake becomes narrow and the Eg River starts out here. Drainage basin of the lake is 5,300 sq km that holds 46 rivers and streams. 69% of South side of Khuvsgul Lake is deeper than 100 m. The lake water is coldest in Mongolia, with +18 Celsius of water surface in summer, because of its deepness. It starts to freeze in September but completely covered by 1.0-1.5 m thick ice in November while it starts to melt in May but sometimes it keeps its ice until beginning of July. Water visibility is up to 22.9 m in the middle, but it is 14.3 m near the shore.
There are 4 islands namely Modon Khui, Khadan Khui, Dalain Khui and Baga Khui. From these, the largest one is Dalain Khui Island with a 5.8 sq km area, 70 km from north shore. Nine species of fish inhabit Khuvsgul including omul, herring, lenok, grayling, perch and roach. This area has been protected since 1992 as a National Park. The lake is still being used for transportation. Russian merchants started using boats for transportation in 1913
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