Khar Us Lake (16326)
Mongolia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Khar Us Lake
Central coordinates: Latitude: 47.7500, Longitude: 92.1667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1157 to 1452
Area of KBA (km2): 2910.69263
Protected area coverage (%): 92.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Khar Us Lake lies 20 km to the east of Khovd City. It is a freshwater lake, fed by the Khovd, Buyant and Tsenkher Rivers, and drained by the Chono-kharaikh River. There are over 20 islands in the lake, of which Agbash Island is the largest. The lake is frozen from November until April. There are extensive reed beds along the southern, western and eastern shores. Surrounding the lake is desert steppe, dry steppe, and semi-desert. At the southeastern edge of the lake is a high mountain, Jargalant Khairkhan, with mountain steppe vegetation. The site is used mainly as pasture for livestock. Problems at the site include burning of reeds, off-road driving and clear-cutting of vegetation, resulting in desertification around the lake. Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus was introduced to the lake in the 1980s, and is now having a negative impact on the lake ecosystem. The IBA overlaps with Khar Us Lake National Park Ramsar Site. There is an elevated concern about the construction of Dorgon Hydropower Project. Although the dam is outside of the IBA, the water level increase after the dam is built may cause some environmental problems. WWF is conducting a monitoring project at the dam site.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: Khar Us Lake lies 20 km to the east of Khovd City. It is a freshwater lake, fed by the Khovd, Buyant and Tsenkher Rivers, and drained by the Chono-kharaikh River. There are over 20 islands in the lake, of which Agbash Island is the largest. The lake is frozen from November until April. There are extensive reed beds along the southern, western and eastern shores. Surrounding the lake is desert steppe, dry steppe, and semi-desert. At the southeastern edge of the lake is a high mountain, Jargalant Khairkhan, with mountain steppe vegetation. The site is used mainly as pasture for livestock. Problems at the site include burning of reeds, off-road driving and clear-cutting of vegetation, resulting in desertification around the lake. Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus was introduced to the lake in the 1980s, and is now having a negative impact on the lake ecosystem. The IBA overlaps with Khar Us Lake National Park Ramsar Site. There is an elevated concern about the construction of Dorgon Hydropower Project. Although the dam is outside of the IBA, the water level increase after the dam is built may cause some environmental problems. WWF is conducting a monitoring project at the dam site. Non-bird biodiversity: Several fish species endemic to western Mongolia inhabit the lake, namely Lake Osman Oreoleuciscus angusticephalus, Potanin’s Osman O. potanini, Small Osman O. humilis and Mongolian Grayling Thymallus revirostris.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 50 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 |