Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake & Khorgo

Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur lies at about 2,060 m in the north of Arkhangai, with the extinct Khorgo volcano near its eastern end. The lake is about 16 km long and up to 10 km wide, with an average depth of around 20 m. Its clear fresh water, larch-covered hills and black lava fields make it one of the most visited places in central Mongolia.

A lake made by a volcano

Khorgo is a cinder cone about 120 m high, with a summit crater around 180 m across. It erupted roughly 8,000 years ago, and its lava flooded the valley and dammed the river, creating the lake. The lava field is still rough and broken, with solidified lava bubbles that locals call 'basalt gers'. Ten rivers feed the lake, and the Suman river drains it. The area has been protected since 1965 and is now Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park; the lake is also a Ramsar wetland of international importance. Small larch forests grow in the valleys, and red deer, wild boar and ruddy shelducks live here.

What to do and how long to stay

The climb from the base of Khorgo to the crater rim is short but steep and takes about an hour return. Two nights let you add a ride along the shore, a swim on a calm morning and some fishing. The lake is at high altitude, so the water stays cold even in summer and nights are cool.

Season and care

July and August are warmest, but they are also the wettest months. The lake freezes in winter. Use existing campsites, keep soap and waste out of the water, and walk on the lava with care, as the rock is sharp and uneven.