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The Lake Hövsgöl (Hövsgöl Nuur) is located in the northwest of Mongolia near the border to Russia, and 700 km from Ulaan Baatar. It is 1,645 m above sea level, 136 km long and 262 m deep. With 2,760 m2, it holds almost 70% of Mongolia's freshwater.The lake is surrounded by several mountains ranges, coniferous Siberian Larch trees, Taiga and rich pastures. The highest mountain is Munku Sardyk (3,492 m), which has its peak north of the lake on the russian-mongolian border.
The lake area is a national park bigger than Yellowstone and strictly protected as a transition zone between Central Asian Steppe and Siberian Taiga. The name Hövsgöl is derived from the turkic words for "blue water lake", and is traditionaly considered sacred. The surface of the lake freezes over completely in winter. The ice cover gets strong enough to carry heavy trucks . However, this shortcut to normal roads is now forbidden to prevent pollution the lake.Hövsgöl aïmag is also the living place of t (https://sites.google.com/a/nattulga.com/nattulga/config/app/images/tsatanes.jpg?attredirects=0) he minority ethnic Dukha (Tsaatan in mongolian).
The Tsaatans are a Turkish people of reindeer herders. Only 44 families remain, totalling somewhere between 200 and 400 people.
They live in huts instead of gers and ride, breed, milk, and live off reindeer.
They possess a social and material culture which has remained unchanged since the Ice Age. Shamanistic or totemic rituals and symbolism are central to their social organization.To see this amazing awesome Lake you can look Cer Camps around this region.Bonda Lake Guesthouse would be happy to welcome you in Hatgal, Hovsgol.
You will find in here mongolian gers for accomodation, hot showers, mongolian and european cooking, and experienced mongol guides for horse, hiking and fish trips in the area. And above all, friendship, laughs, mongol songs and culture.Bonda Lake has organised horse trips since 1993.This camps guides know very well the area and can organise horse trips corresponding to your needs. They all local people.They accommodations,sauna,shower place,internet,Cafe with communal Mongolian and European meals.Works whole year.They have also more activities like hiking,fishing,visit Nomads,winter trips and others.
Hovsgol offers landscape beauties from the steppes to the great Siberian Larches forest, mountains and pristine lakes and rivers, but also the discovery of mongolian herders way of life and culture.
Horse guides will drive you through the best spots of the area, handle and prepare the horses and pack horses, explain and show you Mongol riding skills and horse medicine, prepare the meals, help the contacts with herders and delight your evenings with Mongol songs and their laughs. Tents and mats for fire camps can be provided by Bonda Lake.Khatgal village has museum,National information centre,port,souvenir shops,food markets,shool,hospital,post office,bakery.