Uvs Nuur Basin, Mongolia

The property is made up of twelve protected areas which represent the major biomes of Eastern Eurasia. Five of these protected areas are located in Mongolia. and include the Strictly Protected Areas (SPAs) of Uvs Nuur, Tsagaan Shuvuut and Turgen Uul.

The central Uvs Nuur SPA covers almost half of the just less than 9,000 km² surface area of the entire property.

The glaciated Tsagaan Shuvuut SPA covers an area of 360km² and has peaks which reach a height of some 3400m. Nationally- and globally-endangered animal species coexist here alongside rare bird species such as the bearded vulture, which is one of Mongolia’s largest birds.

The Turgen Uul SPA is represented by high mountainous meadows and mountain steppes. It is home to 368 plant species and many rare and endangered species of animal. The beautiful scenery features such natural formations as caves, glaciers, waterfalls and cliffs.

The property boasts an extraordinary diversity of landscapes which include: cold desert, desert-steppe and steppe; conifer, deciduous and floodplain forests; diverse wetlands and marshlands; freshwater and saltwater systems; mobile and fixed sand dunes; and even tundra.

In line with the diversity of the landscape, there is also a rich diversity in the species that can be found here, which include locally endemic plants and endangered animals. 

Two notable examples of the local plantlife are the saussurea involucrata and the wild sea buckthorn. 

The rare and protected saussurea involucrata is well adapted to the cold climate in which it grows. Growing to up to 80cm tall during a short period in the summer, its distinctive white flower, known as the Flower of Heaven, has been worshipped by Mongolians for centuries.

The lake provides an incredibly important habitat for waterfowl and seabirds, as well as for the many migrating birds that use the site as a stopover. The steppe ecosystem also supports a rich diversity of birds. Amongst the region’s birdlife are:

White-headed duck. This small diving bird measures around 45 cm. The female has a dark bill whilst the male’s is a striking blue colour. They feed off aquatic plants which they find when diving under the water and have been classified as Endangered due to declining populations. 

Great egret. This large, white bird can measure up to 1m in length and has a wingspan of up to 1.7m. With a distinctive yellow bill and long black legs, it nests in reeds and bushes along the shores of lakes, and feeds on fish, frogs, small lizards and insects.

Snow leopard. This endangered species lives among high altitude mountains and steppe areas with dry bushes, cliffs and rocky outcrops, where they are easily able to camouflage, enabling them to sneak up on prey. They live at the top of the food chain.

Siberian salamander. This rare species was discovered in the Basin in 1993 as Western Mongolia’s first tailed amphibian. It lives in wet woodlands and at the edges of rivers and streams and is the only amphibian which can survive freezing temperatures as low as -40ºC.

Reed boar. This rare species of boar is omnivorous, eating mainly the green parts of plants, roots and small animals. Female reed boars live with their offspring while male boars live alone.

Eurasian beaver. This monogamous animal is one of the world’s largest rodents. They live in holes which they dig into the banks of gently flowing rivers, and feed off plants, trees and roots. As creators of wetlands, they are an important part of the ecosystem they inhabit.

Pallas’s cat. Also known as a manul, this small wild cat measures up to 65cm and has a long bushy tail. With Iong, dense fur, it is well-suited to the extreme temperatures of the region’s continental climate. An excellent predator, it lives off small mammals, birds and insects.