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close| Location | Mongolia, Bayan-Olgii |
| Central coordinates | 88o 25.00' East 48o 35.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A2, A3, A4i |
| Area | 34,000 ha |
| Altitude | 2,072 - 3,245m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2007 |
Ornithological information Two Globally Threatened species are found at the site: Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus (VU) and Whitethroated Bushchat Saxicola insignis (VU). The site also supports bird communities characteristic of the Eurasian steppe and desert and Eurasian high montane biomes, as well as Mongolian Accentor Prunella koslowi, the restricted range species that defines the Mongolian Mountains Secondary Area. The site regularly supports at least 1% of the flyway populations of the following congregatory waterbird species: Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula and Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus.
Site description The Khoton-Khorgon Lakes are located at the source of Khovd River in Tsengel soum. They comprise a series of freshwater lakes, of glacial origin, connected by the 3 km-long Sargaal Channel. The lakes are frozen from December until June. Although the lakes are rich in fish, no commercial fishing is practiced at the site. The main land use in the area surrounding the lakes is livestock grazing. The lakes are surrounded by the Mongol Altai mountain range, with extensive forests, snow fi elds and glaciers.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea | - | 2004 | present [units unknown] | - | A4i | Least Concern |
| Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula | - | 2004 | present [units unknown] | - | A3, A4i | Least Concern |
| Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus | - | 2004 | present [units unknown] | - | A1, A4i | Vulnerable |
| Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus | - | 2004 | present [units unknown] | - | A4i | Least Concern |
| White-throated Bushchat Saxicola insignis | - | 2004 | present [units unknown] | - | A1, A3 | Vulnerable |
| Mongolian Accentor Prunella koslowi | - | 2007 | present [units unknown] | - | A2, A3 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altai Tavan Bogd | National Conservation Park | 636,161 | unknown | 0 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | |
| Grassland | - |
Other biodiversity Several nationally threatened fish species listed in the Mongolian Red List of Fishes inhabit the Khoton- Khorgon lakes, including Lake Osman Oreoleuciscus angusticephalus, Small Osman O. humilis and Mongolian Grayling Thymallus revirostris.
Protection status Fully protected by Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Khoton-Khorgon Lakes . Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013
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