Alag-Erdene

Overview

Alag-Erdene includes Khatgal, a village on the southern tip of Lake Khövsgöl. Khatgal was once a town in its own right and is now part of the soum. It has a port, a school, a post office and an airport opened in 2007, and tourism is one of its main livelihoods, since it is the way in to the lakeside camps.

Lake Khövsgöl is up to 136 km long and covers about 2,760 km² at roughly 1,645 metres above sea level. With an average depth of 138 metres it holds almost 70% of Mongolia's fresh water. The lake drains at its southern end, near Khatgal, through the Egiin Gol, which flows into the Selenge and on to Lake Baikal.

What to See

• Lake Khövsgöl, Mongolia's largest freshwater lake by volume
• The Egiin Gol, the lake's only outflow, leaving the lake at its southern end
• Lakeside camps and walks along the shore north of Khatgal
• In winter, the frozen lake; the ice is thick, but driving on it is now forbidden

Visiting

• Khatgal is the usual base for the lake, with guesthouses and camps nearby.
• Summer is the main season. The lake freezes completely in winter.