Good Bye Emma

This morning we said goodbye to Emma (she's off to Vietnam) and we're off to Khovsgol Nuur and northern Mongolia - the most developed tourist region in the country.

Northern Mongolia is complete opposite of its southern desolate desert and steppes. It feels more like Switzerland (or Sweden) with log cabins, pine forest and deep turquoise lakes. This region is more similar to Siberia than rest of Mongolia, in terms of people, culture, climate and landscape.









Khovsgol Nuur National Park - known as the Blue Pearl of Mongolia, the lake stretches 136km and into the Siberian taiga. It is the second-largest lake (2760 sq km) in Mongolia, surpassed only by Uvs Nuur, but it is the deepest lake (up to 262m deep) and 14th largest source of fresh water. Geologically, Khovsgol is the younger sibling to Lake Baikal in Siberia, by 23 million years and formed by the same tectonic forces. The lake is full of fish, but locals regard the lake as sacred and they don't swim, fish or bathe in the lake. Unfortunately, most foreigners and even Mongolians from outside of the Khovsgol region don't respect the local traditions, and swim and fish in the lake.

Location:Khovsgol, Mongolia