Orkhon Gol (Орхон гол)
Orkhon River
River
Country	Mongolia
Aimags	Arkhangai, Bulgan, Selenge
Major cities	Kharkhorin, Bulgan
Tributaries
- left	Tamir
- right	Tuul, Kharaa
Source
- location	Khangai Mountains
Mouth	Selenge
Length	1,124 km (698 mi)
Basin	132,835 km2 (51,288 sq mi)
Discharge	for Bulgan
- average	66 m3/s (2,331 cu ft/s)
- max	190.2 m3/s (6,717 cu ft/s) July
- min	0.5 m3/s (18 cu ft/s) February

The Orkhon River (Mongolian: Орхон гол, Orkhon gol) is a river in Mongolia. It rises in the Khangai Mountains of Arkhangai Aimag and flows northwards for 1,124 km (698 miles) before joining the Selenge River, which flows north into Russia and Lake Baikal. The Orkhon is longer than the Selenge, making it the longest river in Mongolia. Major tributaries of the Orkhon river are the Tuul River and Tamir River.

There are two sets of ancient ruins along the river valley: Khar Balgas, the ancient capital of the Uyghur Kingdom and Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire. Pyotr Kuzmich Kozlov excavated several Hunnic Imperial tombs in the area of the river valley.

Very close to the Orkhon the Ulaan Tsutgalan river features a waterfall, ten meters wide and twenty meters high. The waterfall is a popular destination for tourists. Fish in the Orkhon river include pike, carp, perch, taimen and catfish.

UNESCO lists the Orkhon Valley as a World Heritage Site.

[edit] See also

• List of rivers of Mongolia
• Khöshöö Tsaidam Monuments (World heritage site)

[edit] References

H. Barthel, Mongolei-Land zwischen Taiga und Wüste, Gotha 1990, p.34f

"Сэлэнгэ мөрөн". www.medeelel.mn. http://www.medeelel.mn/index.php?page=land&sm=73&s=1345. Retrieved July 16, 2007. 

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 47°33′24″N 102°49′53″E / 47.55667°N 102.83139°E / 47.55667; 102.83139