Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
Mongolian: Говь Гурвансайхан байгалийн цогцолборт газар
IUCN category II (national park)
A ger with the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains behind
Location of Park
Location	SouthGobi Province, Mongolia
Nearest city	Dalanzadgad
Coordinates	43°48′10″N 101°35′23″E
Area	2,700,000 hectares (6,671,845 acres; 27,000 km2; 10,425 sq mi)
Established	1993
Governing body	Ministry of Environment and Green Development of Mongolia

Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park (Mongolian: Говь Гурвансайхан байгалийн цогцолборт газар, Gobi three beauties nature complex) is a national park in southern Mongolia. The park was established in 1993, and expanded to its current size in 2000. The park, at nearly 27,000 square kilometers, is the largest national park in Mongolia, stretching 380 km from east to west and 80 km from north to south.

The park is named for the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains, which translates to the Three Beauties. The name is derived from three subranges, the East, Middle and West Beauty. The range forms the eastern half of the park.

The park lies on the northern edge of the Gobi Desert. The higher elevations contain areas of steppe, and reach elevations of up to 2,600 meters. A number of rare plants and animals are found in the park, including the elusive snow leopard and the Gobi camel. Areas of sand dunes are found, most famously the Khongoryn Els - the Singing Sands. Another major tourist destination is Yolyn Am, which is connected with Dalanzadgad by paved road and a mountain valley that contains a large ice field through most of the year.

Bactrian camels by the sand dunes of Khongoryn Els.

The park is usually accessed via the town of Dalanzadgad, which has airport service to Ulaanbaatar.

Wildlife

The park is a haven for some endangered species like the argali sheep, snow leopard and Siberian ibex. The eponymous mountains of the park are inhabited by the magnificent lammergeier, or bearded vulture. The eastern range of the park supports the endangered Saker Falcon and has been designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.

See also

• List of national parks of Mongolia

Sand dunes

External links

• Border map at ProtectedPlanet.net