Khorgo Extinct Volcano

Khorgo Mountain is a dormant volcano which lies on the east of the Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. The Khorgo crater, situated at an altitude of 2.210 meters with a diameter of 20 meters and depth of 70 to 80 meters, is the most interesting at all. The Khorgo volcano is covered with basalt. The northern slope is covered with Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica). It has been protected since 1965, fully in 1997, to safeguard spectacular mountain scenery and endangered fauna and flora. There is no lake in this crater, but clouds of steam jet out it is crevices forming ice moulds in winter, which from a distance look like large flocks of sheep scattered on the mountain. Near the crater there are dozens of small caverns with stalactites hanging from their ceiling and walls. About 8000 years ago volcanic lava flooded the valleys nearby which are covered today with small forests of Siberian larch and a great variety of berries and flowers. In the woods there are lots of deer, wild goat and other animals, as well as various kinds of birds such as Red Deer, Siberian Deer, Wild Boar, Ruddy Shelduck and Duck.