Ganga Lake (Mongolia)

Ganga Lake
Location Sükhbaatar Province
Coordinates 45°15′N 114°00′E / 45.250°N 114.000°E / 45.250; 114.000Coordinates: 45°15′N 114°00′E / 45.250°N 114.000°E / 45.250; 114.000
Basin countries Mongolia
Max. length 2.1 km (1.3 mi)
Max. width 1.6 km (0.99 mi)
Surface area 2.2 km2 (0.85 sq mi)
Surface elevation 1,294 m (4,245 ft)
Official name Lake Ganga and its surrounding wetlands
Designated 22 March 2004
Reference no. 1378[1]

Ganga Lake (Mongolian: Ганга нуур) is a saltwater lake located in Dariganga sum, Sükhbaatar Province, Mongolia. The lake lies on the transition zone between the southern steppes and the Gobi desert, giving it a unique landscape of lakes, steppes, and sand dunes. The lake and its wetlands (of which the total area is 32.8 km²) is an important breeding and resting area for endangered migratory birds, including the great crested grebe, the whooper swan, and the ruddy shelduck.

Due to ongoing climate change, the lake area is shrinking.[2]

Neighboring lakes include Duut Lake, Sumtiin Lake, Erdene Lake, Kholboo Lake, Züün Kholboo Lake, Tsagaan Lake, Khoshmogt Lake, Red Lake (dried up), and Zegst Lake.

The lake and its surrounding wetlands was designated a Ramsar site in 2004.

Naming

The name Ganga is another term for the River Ganges. A folk legend states that the 18th century Mongol nobleman Togtokhtör wang had two flasks of water brought from the holy river and put in the lake, thereby giving the lake its name.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Lake Ganga and its surrounding wetlands". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Ганга нуур ширгэжээ" (in Mongolian). 2010-09-17. Archived from the original on 2012-08-08. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  3. ↑ "Ганга нуур" (in Mongolian). 2011-05-24. Archived from the original on 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2012-05-08.


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