Bayan-Ulgii provinces of Mongolia has several protected areas by Mongolian government. There are some unique species in this provinces that are listed in red book.
Most of the parks come under the jurisdiction of the Mongol Altai Nuruu Special Protected Area. Environmentalists hope that further sections of Bayan-Olgii will become national parks to preserve the argali sheep, ibex and snow leopard, as well as the important sources of lakes and rivers in the Great Lakes depression in the Uvs and Khovd aimags.
- Altai Tavanbogd National Park (636,161 hectares). Takes in Tavanbogd Uul, Mongolia’s highest mountain, and the stunning lakes of Khoton, Khurgan and Dayan. Fauna includes argali sheep, ibex, maral (Asiatic red deer), stone marten, deer, elk, Altai snowcock and eagles.
The Altay Tavan Bogd Mountains(Five Saints) have the five highest peaks in Mongolia:
- Huiten (Cool) Peak 4374 m (Great Mongol)
- Burged Peak (Eagle)4310 m
- Naran Peak (Sunny)4280 m
- Ulgii Peak(Motherland) 4100 m
- Malchin Peak (Herdsman)4138 m
Huiten (Cool) Peak (4374m), is located overlooking the borders of three country – Mongolia, Russia and China. For this reason it is called Nairamdal (Friendship) Peak.
- Great Mongol peak 4374 m
- Burged peak 4310 m
- Naran peak 4280 m
- Ulgii peak 4100m
- Malchin peak 4138 m
- Khokh Serkh Strictly Protected Area (65,920 hectare). A mountainous area on the border with Khovd, which protects argali sheep and ibex.
- Siylkhem Nuruu National Park (14,080 hectares). This new park, created in 2000, has two sections, one around Ikh Turgen Uul, the other further east.
- Develiin Aral Natural Reserve (10,300 hectares). A remarkable habitat around Develiin Island in the L’san Khooloi and Khovd rivers. Established in 2000, it is home to pheasants, boars and beavers.
- Tsambagarav L’ul National Park (110,960 hectares). Established in 2000 to protect glaciers and the snow leopard habitat borders on Khovd.
[...] Altay Tavanbogd Natural Park. This stunningly beautiful park stretches south from Tavanbogd Uul and includes the three stunning lakes of Khoton Nuur, Khurgan Nuur and Dayan Nuur. It’s a remote area, divided from China by the high wall of snowcapped peaks, and known to local Kazakhs as the Syrgali region. All three lakes are the source of the Khovd Gol, which eventually flows into Khar Us Nuur in Khovd aimag. It’s possible to make rafting trips down river from Dayan Nuur, though no agencies offer this at present. There are many archeological sites in the region. As the main road through the region swings towards the southern shore of Khurgan Nuur you can see a stupa-like construction and several burial sites. Nearby is a balbal (Turkic stone statue) and the remains of a processional pathway. Further along the road is a wooden Kazakh mosque, with a ger-shaped roof. Further north-west, along the south-western shore of Khoton Nuur, the road deteriorates and there are several rivers to cross as they flow into the lake. North-west of Khoton Nuur the mountains close in and there’s some fine trekking possibilities.Tavanbogd (Five Saints) mountain rises 4374m above the borders of three nations, and for this reason it is also known as Nairamdal (Friendship) Peak. If you sit on the summit, you can simultaneously be in Mongolia, China and Russia (though you won’t need a visa for all three). Tavanbogd is one of Mongolia’s most spectacular peaks, of interest to professional climbers, and the only one in Bavan-Olgii to be permanently covered with large glaciers (including the 19km long Potanii Glacier, the longest in Mongolia). It’s fairly dangerous, and to climb it you need to be with an experienced group properly equipped with ice axes, crampons and ropes. Don’t even consider attempting it solo. The best time to climb is August and September, after the worst of the summer rains.The massif is made up of five peaks (the five saints) – Khuiten, Naran, Olgii, Buraed and Nairamdal – the highest of which is Khuiten (meaning ‘cold’) at 4374m. [...]