Orkhon River
Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox river
The Orkhon River (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell)<ref>Template:Dictionary.com</ref>Template:Efn is the longest river in Mongolia.
It rises in the Khangai Mountains in the Tsenkher sum of Arkhangai aimag at the foot of the Suvraga Khairkhan mountain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From there, it crosses the border into Övörkhangai aimag and follows the upper Orkhon valley in an eastern direction until it reaches Kharkhorin. On this stretch, very close to the Orkhon, the Ulaan Tsutgalan river features a waterfall, Template:Convert wide and Template:Convert high,<ref>[WATERFALL ULAAN TSUTGALAN https://mongolia-guide.com/place/waterfall-ulaan-tsutgalan]</ref> which is a popular destination for tourists.
From Kharkhorin it flows northwards until it reaches Bulgan aimag, and then north-east to join the Selenge River next to Sükhbaatar city in Selenge aimag, close to the Russian border.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Selenge then flows further north into Russia and Lake Baikal.
With Template:Convert, the Orkhon is longer than the Selenge, making it the longest river in Mongolia. Major tributaries of the Orkhon river are the Tuul River and Tamir River.
There are two sets of ancient ruins along the river valley: Khar Balgas, the ancient capital of the Uyghur Kingdom and Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire. Pyotr Kuzmich Kozlov excavated several Xiongnu Imperial tombs in the area of the river valley.
Fish in the Orkhon River include pike, carp, perch, taimen and catfish.
UNESCO lists the Orkhon Valley as a World Heritage Site.
Usage
In 2014, almost 40 million m3 of water was withdrawn from the river for domestic, livestock, cropland and industrial use.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
- Khöshöö Tsaidam Monuments (World heritage site)
- List of rivers of Mongolia
Notes
References
Further reading
- H. Barthel, Mongolei-Land zwischen Taiga und Wüste, Gotha 1990, p. 34f