Airkhan Lake (16342)
Mongolia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Airkhan Lake
Central coordinates: Latitude: 49.6167, Longitude: 102.6667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 936 to 1319
Area of KBA (km2): 72.11665
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Airkhan Lake is located south of a major tributary of the Eg River. The lake is largely dependent on rainfall, and, in dry years, it becomes two separate pools. There are agricultural fields, mainly for wheat, near the lake. Local people use water from the lake for domestic use and livestock. Trampling of reeds and wet grassland by livestock is a serious threat to the site. The water level has fallen, a phenomenon that has been attributed to a warmer climate.
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: Globally Threatened bird species recorded at the site comprise Swan Goose Anser cygnoides (EN), Pallas’s Fish-eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus (VU), Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca (VU) and Great Bustard Otis tarda (VU). The site also supports at least 1% of the flyway populations of Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Common Crane Grus grus and Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus. Non-bird biodiversity: No information is available on other fauna and flora.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |