Onon Balj National Park

The Onon-Balj basin is located at the southern edge of Siberian boreal coniferous forest and stretched into Daurian steppe. Situated at the juncture of two big ecosystems of central Asia, the area is unique with its natural formation and rich in biodiversity. Yet, the ecosystem is very fragile. The forest and steppe landscape, its composition and specific ecological functions, also serves as a home to a number of rare and endangered species in Mongolia and the globally endangered birds such as white-naped crane, hooded crane and great bustard and a number of aquatic Asian species. In addition to its nature beauty and picturesque areas, the basin is abundant with historically and culturally important areas, particularly the historical sites related to Chinggis Khan, the Great Mongolian Emperor and other historical, cultural, scientific and ecological significant areas. The Onon-Balj was taken under the State protection in 2000 as a National Park, with 415,752 hectare area, to protect the biodiversity and its genetic bank and to develop environmentally friendly tourism based on natural and historical sites.