Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake

Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake is a freshwater lake in Arkhangai Province in central Mongolia, set in the Khangai mountain zone. It is part of a volcanic landscape that includes the nearby Khorgo crater and is protected within a national park.

The lake lies against basaltic lava and scoria fields that resulted from Holocene volcanic activity; the Khorgo eruption created lava flows that influenced the local drainage and helped form the lake basin. Visitors use marked trails around the shoreline, campgrounds and short walks up to the volcanic features.

Archaeological traces and pastoral use occur in the region, while contemporary visitors come for hiking, fishing and horse trekking across the upland steppe and volcanic terrain. The site is managed as a national park to preserve the volcanic landforms, lake environment and steppe ecosystems.

The lake sits in central Mongolia’s Arkhangai Province in the Khangai Mountains, roughly west-northwest of the provincial centre and accessible by road from regional towns.

• Protected area: The lake and surrounding area are protected within Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park, which conserves volcanic and freshwater landscapes.
• Best time to visit: Summer is the main visiting season for hiking, boating and horse travel; winter brings ice and very cold conditions.

What to See #

• Khorgo volcano: Khorgo volcano and crater on the north shore of the lake form a compact volcanic site with lava fields and a shallow crater that visitors can walk to from lakeside trails.