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NASA CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Buir Nur

Lake

Freshwater lake on Mongolia's eastern steppe, bordering China in places, set amid grassy plains. Birdwatchers and anglers visit for waterfowl, fishing camps and open landscape.

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Buir Nur essentials

Address: Buir Nur (Buir Lake), on the Mongolia-China border (Dornod Province region)
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About Buir Nur

Buir Nur is a freshwater lake in eastern Mongolia, commonly referred to as Buir Lake, located near the international border with the People’s Republic of China. It is one of the larger lakes in Mongolia and an important local landscape feature.

The lake and its shoreline wetlands provide habitat for migratory and resident waterbirds and are used locally for fishing and grazing. The surrounding landscape is steppe and open country typical of Mongolia’s eastern plains.

Buir Nur has long been part of the seasonal resource base for local herding communities and features in regional geography and land use patterns; it has not been heavily developed and remains largely natural in character.

The lake lies in eastern Mongolia, close to the Mongolia-China border within Mongolia’s eastern provinces, set in a broad steppe landscape.

  • Ecology: Buir Nur (Buir Lake) is an important wetland for migratory waterbirds and supports freshwater fishing and local pastoralist activities.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Buir Nur

Summer months are most convenient for access and lake activities; winter brings freezing conditions and limited access.

Summer
June-August · 15-25°C
Warmest and most accessible time for lakeside visits and boat activities.
Late Spring-Early Autumn
May & September · 8-18°C
Shoulder seasons with fewer insects but more variable weather.

Weather & Climate near Buir Nur

Climate

Buir Nur's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -27°C to 25°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 50 Good
Best Time to Visit
AugustJulySeptember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
41°
Warmest Month
-41°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor -27° - -16° -29° 2 mm partly cloudy 88% 2.8 m/s 0.1 low 8.8h
February Poor -25° - -12° -26° 2 mm some cloud 83% 2.9 m/s 0.4 low 10.1h
March Acceptable -16° - -4° -16° 2 mm partly cloudy 65% 3.6 m/s 0.7 moderate 11.8h
April Good -5° - 7° -3° 10 mm partly cloudy 47% 4.6 m/s 1.1 high 13.5h
May Very Good 4° - 15° 7° 13 mm partly cloudy 45% 4.4 m/s 1.6 very high 14.9h
June Very Good 11° - 23° 17° 34 mm partly cloudy 50% 3.5 m/s 1.8 very high 15.7h
July Excellent 15° - 25° 20° 73 mm partly cloudy 56% 3.0 m/s 1.9 very high 15.3h
August Excellent 13° - 23° 18° 62 mm some cloud 56% 2.9 m/s 1.7 very high 14.1h
September Excellent 6° - 17° 11° 26 mm some cloud 56% 3.4 m/s 1.1 high 12.4h
October Good -2° - 8° -1° 8 mm some cloud 61% 3.5 m/s 0.5 moderate 10.7h
November Acceptable -14° - -4° -15° 4 mm partly cloudy 73% 3.3 m/s 0.2 low 9.2h
December Poor -23° - -14° -26° 2 mm partly cloudy 87% 3.0 m/s 0.1 low 8.3h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Buir Nur

Regional access is from the Mongolian town of Choibalsan or from nearby border crossings; local transport options are limited and private arrangements are usually required.

Tips for Visiting Buir Nur

  • If planning a visit to the lake's shores, arrange transport and local permissions in advance - the area is remote
  • Bring insect repellent during warmer months; mosquitoes can be abundant at lakes
  • Combine a trip with regional cultural visits in Dornod province or the nearby town of Choibalsan