Getting There
The lake is located about 50 kilometres (30 mi) south of Ulgii, on the main road between Ulgii and Khovd.
What to Expect
Covering 185 square kilometres of land, The Tolbo nuur freshwater lake is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Ulgii, on the main road between Ulgii and Khovd. Tolbo lake is also known as 100 kazan (100 pots). The reason why is the lake has 100 deep places that are just like pots.
Despite being 2080m above sea level, the lightly saline waters are warm enough for swimming in summer, and mosquitoes aren’t a problem. On a clear day, the treeless shore offers views of Sairyn Uul (3981m), a glacier-capped peak to the east. Wild ibex are occasionally sighted in the rocky hills north of the lake.
History
A major battle was fought here in 1921 between the Bolsheviks and White Russians, with the local Mongolian general, Khasbaatar, siding with the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks won; there’s a couple of memorial plaques by the lake. A scenic diorama of the battle can be viewed in Ulgii’s museum.
