Govi-Altai Province

Govi-Altai Province lies in western Mongolia and borders China to the southwest. Its area is about 141,400 square kilometres, second only to Ömnögovi among Mongolia's provinces. It was established in 1940 and has 18 sums (districts). The capital, Altai city, is about 1,005 km from Ulaanbaatar.

A vast, empty land

The population was about 57,000 in 2017, roughly 0.4 people per square kilometre, making it the least densely populated province in Mongolia. Semi-deserts such as Sharga and Biger spread across it and make herding hard, so people gather along the small rivers fed by snowmelt in the northeast.

Mountains and lakes

The highest peak is Sutai Uul, at somewhere over 4,000 m. Others include Khüren Tövön (3,802 m), Burkhan Buuddai (3,765 m), Khasagt Khairkhan (3,579 m) and Eej Khairkhan (2,275 m). Oases with saxaul, elm, poplar and reeds dot the semi-desert, and about twenty salt lakes, including Tonkhil, Alag and Biger, lie scattered across the land.

Protected areas and wildlife

The province holds the Great Gobi A and B Strictly Protected Areas (together a biosphere reserve), Khasagt Khairkhan Strictly Protected Area, Eej Khairkhan, Alag Khairkhan and Sharga Nature Reserves, and Takhiin Tal. Great Gobi A is said to shelter around 50 Gobi bears (mazaalai), among the rarest bears in the world. Wild Bactrian camels, ibex, argali and snow leopards also live here, and wild Przewalski's horses (takhi) were reintroduced to Takhiin Tal in the 1990s.

Highlights

Altai town has a local museum with more than 7,500 exhibits and Dashpeljeelen Monastery, built in 1990. Near Eej Khairkhan Mountain, rock paintings show ibex, horsemen and archers. The province has 35 historic and cultural sites across 14 sums. Great Gobi A is remote, and an experienced guide is needed to find its springs and oases.

Getting there

Altai Airport has regular flights to Ulaanbaatar, Arvaikheer and Bayankhongor. Most travellers pass through on the way west to Bayan-Ölgii or Khovd, and the area suits adventurous trips best.