Ganga Lakes (16356)
Mongolia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Ganga Lakes
Central coordinates: Latitude: 45.2500, Longitude: 114.0000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1227 to 1537
Area of KBA (km2): 265.39206
Protected area coverage (%): 96.92
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Ganga Lake lies on the Dariganga plateau in Dariganga soum. The area has characteristics of both Gobi and steppe ecosystems. There are a number of small lakes at the site, including Ganga, Duut, Kholboo, Zegst, Tsagaan, Erdene, Sumt and Khoshmog Lakes, as well as sand dunes, for example Moltsog, Owoon and Kholboogiin Baruun. Zegst and Duut Lakes are fed by Dagsin spring waters and surrounded by reeds. Ganga Lake’s southern shore is covered by shrubs and woodland. The rest of the area supports dry steppe and desert steppe. Tourism is being developed at the site, and the use of off-road vehicles is having a negative impact on the vegetation and fragile soils. Ganga Lake and its surrounding wetlands were nominated as a Ramsar Site in 2004.
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 species that regularly use the site comprise Swan Goose Anser cygnoides (EN), Whitenaped Crane Grus vipio (VU) and Great Bustard Otis tarda (VU). The site supports an assemblage of species restricted to the Eurasian steppe and desert. The site also supports at least 1% of the flyway populations of Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus, Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus, Swan Goose Anser cygnoides, Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Common Shelduck T. tadorna and Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo. Non-bird biodiversity: The site is not thought to be particularly important for other fauna and flora.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 50 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 |