Khyargas Lake & Khetsüü Khad

Khyargas Nuur is a large salt lake in the semi-desert of the Great Lakes Depression in Uvs province. It is about 75 km long and up to 31 km wide, reaches a depth of 80 m, and covers some 1,400 km². On the eastern shore stands Khetsüü Khad, a pale rock rising about 20 m from the water, where a colony of cormorants nests each summer. Springs rise near the north-western shore, and long sand and pebble beaches make it a good place to swim.

A desert lake

Khyargas has no outlet. Its main supply is the Zavkhan river, which reaches it through the freshwater Airag Nuur, and the water stays in the lake for decades before evaporating, which leaves it salty. Both lakes lie within Khyargas Nuur National Park, created in 2000. The shore is dry, stony semi-desert with low mountains behind.

The cormorants of Khetsüü Khad

The birds on Khetsüü Khad are great cormorants. They arrive in April, raise their chicks in large nests built on the rock, and leave by about mid-September for their wintering grounds in southern China. In early summer the colony is loud and the smell of guano is strong. Gulls and other waterbirds also gather along this part of the shore. Watch from the beach or the hillside rather than climbing towards the nests, and keep drones away from the colony.

When to go and how long

June to August is the season, when the water is warm enough for swimming; July is usually the warmest month. One or two nights is enough for a swim, a sunset at Khetsüü Khad and a walk along the shore. There is little shade, so bring sun protection and drinking water, as the lake water is too salty to drink.