GREAT WHITE LAKE (TERKHIIN TSAGAAN NUUR)

Location: Arkhangai Province

Set along two of the world’s major bird migration routes, Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur and its wetlands are an important resting place for migratory waterfowl, including bar-headed geese, during seasonal movements. Long ago, lava flows spread across the valley, blocking a river and gradually forming a natural dam that gave rise to the lake. Today, the lake stretches about 16 km (10 miles) in length, with clear freshwater reaching an average depth of 20 meters (65 feet).