Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Choyr is a small city (and aimag center) located along the railway line from Ulaanbaatar to China. The city has petrol stations, supermarkets, and mobile phone coverage. A statue commemorating Mongolia's first cosmonaut is located near the train station (see photo below). Choyr is stop #20 on the local train from Ulaanbaatar to Sainshand.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Shevi Ovoo consists of a small train station with a few buildings for staff and a large coal mine that supplies power plants in Ulaanbaatar. There are no services in Shevi Ovoo, which is stop #21 on the local train from Ulaanbaatar to Sainshand.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

The train station at Shevi Gobi is about a 3-5 minute drive from the town. It is stop #22 on the local train from Ulaanbaatar to Sainshand.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Shevi Gobi is small, desolate town along the main railway line from Ulaanbaatar to the Chinese border. The town has a telephone office, petrol station, and small supermarket. Mobile phone coverage is limited, but available at high points outside of town. A small air force unit also based here during the Soviet era. Shevi Gobi is a common departure point for people visiting Ikh Nart.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Dalanjargal Soum Center is a small town located along the railway line from Ulaanbaatar to the Chinese border. Services include a telephone office, petrol station, and supermarket. There is also a small military base in the town.

Below is a photo of a winning wrestler at a Naadam competition in Dalanjargal.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Airag Soum Center is a small town located along the main railway line from Ulaanbaatar to the Chinese border. Miners often sell minerals and ore at a depot in the town. Services include a telephone office, petrol station, and supermarket.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

A scientific research camp, consisting of several gers, lies at the head of Burgas Valley of Ikh Nart Nature Reserve.  A number of research project base from the camp. Among them include projects focusing on the behavior and ecology of ungulates, carnivores, and birds of prey.  The Earthwatch Institute’s Wildlife of the Mongolian Steppe program also runs expeditions from the camp. 

The camp is maintained by the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Denver Zoological Foundation, and Mongolian Conservation Coalition. 

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Khalzan is a small rustic ger camp and sanitarium operated locally and open only during the summer months. Mongolians often visit Khalzan to convalesce from illness or rest and drink waters from nearby sulfur springs. Khalzan also has a small bar and disco.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Shine Os Valley is a prominent drainage in the reserve and a good place to view wildlife. Several ancient burial mounds also occur near the head of the valley as well as Lesser Kestrel breeding colonies and Cinereous Vulture nests.

Below is a photo of a Red Fox taken in Shine Os.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Khuurai Valley is a prominent dry drainage in the reserve and a good place to view wildlife, including Argali Sheep and Siberian Ibex.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Burgas Valley is a prominent drainage in the area and a good place to view wildlife. Although dry for most of the year, heavy rainfall in summer often causes flash flooding in the valley. Some of the only fresh water springs in the area occur here.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Khongilt Valley is a prominent, steep sided drainage in Ikh Nart and a good place to see Argali Sheep and Ibex. No water sources occur in the drainage.

Below is a photo of a large Argali ram taken in Khongilt.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

'Khokh Os Ni Am' or Blue Water Valley is a prominent drainage in the region and good place to view Argali Sheep, Ibex, and other wildlife. Despite it's name, no permanent water occurs in the valley.

Below is a photo of a large male Ibex taken in Khokh Os.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

'Ulaan Khad Ni Am' or Red Rock Valley is a large, prominant drainage in Ikh Nart and a good place to view Argali Sheep, Ibex, and other wildlife in the reserve. Although dry for most of the year, heavy rainfall in summer often causes flash flooding in the valley. Some of the only fresh water springs in the area occur here.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

'Onderelstei' or Tall Sand Mountain is a high point in Ikh Nart that overlooks several rocky valleys and open steppe. An unusual survey marker used to map the area during the Soviet era sits on top of Onderelstei.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Many rocky outcrops in the reserve provide outstanding scenic views. Below is a photo of a rainbow taken from an outcrop at the head of Burgas Valley.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Cymbur is the site of a large Buddhist prayer 'ovoo'. Locals often leave prayer scarves or offerings at the ovoo. Cymbur is also the site of local Naadam Festival in summer (usually August).

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Irn Mountain is the site of large Buddhist 'ovoo' or prayer site. Locals often place prayer scarfs or make offering at the ovoo. Irn Mountain is also the site of a local Naadam celebration (usually in July). Below is a photo of performers at a Naadam in 2007.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Several ancient burial mounds are located near the head of Shine Os Valley in Ikh Nart. The age of mounds are unknown, but thought to date back several hundred years. Approximely 10-12 mounds occur here and are faintly visible in the Google Earth image.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Haraat is the site of a small uranium mine that operated during the Soviet era. The mine is currently closed, although operations may resume in 2009.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Buddhist phrases written in Tibetan language are inscribed into rock outcrops here. This is one of several petroglyphs in the area, probably carved in the early 1900s by lamas living in Ikh Nart.

Petroglyphs may be found throughout the reserve and represent among the only remnants of the rich Buddhist history in the area.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Buddhist phrases written in Tibetan language are inscribed into rock outcrops here. This is one of several petroglyphs in the area, probably carved in the early 1900s by lamas living in Ikh Nart.

Petroglyphs may be found throughout Ikh Nart and represent among the only remnants of the rich Buddhist past in the area.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Buddhist phrases written in Tibetan language are inscribed into rock outcrops here. This is one of several petroglyphs in the area, probably carved in the early 1900s by lamas living in Ikh Nart.

Petroglyphs may be found throughout Ikh Nart and represent among the only remnants of the rich Buddhist past in the area.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Buddhist phrases written in Tibetan language are inscribed into rock outcrops here. This is one of several petroglyphs in the area, probably carved in the early 1900s by lamas living in Ikh Nart. Nearby is a large rock outcrop with reddish hues called 'Ulaan Khad' or 'red rock' by locals. One of the few permanent fresh water springs in the area also occurs in the nearby valley bottom.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

The monastery at Burgas Ni Am (or valley) once served as an important place of worship for Buddhist lamas in Ikh Nart. The Soviets destroyed the monastery in the mid-1900s along with several other smaller monasteries in the region. Only the foundation of the Burgas monastery remains today.

Artifacts from the monastery are housed at a small museum in Dalanjargal.