Orkhon River 

Orkhon Gol (Орхон гол)
Orkhon River
River
none
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 /s (2,331 cu ft/s)
 - max 190.2 /s (6,717 cu ft/s) July
 - min 0.5 /s (18 cu ft/s) February

Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall

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 found several Hunnic Imperial tombs in the area of the river valley.

Very close to the Orkhon the Ulaan Tsutgalan river features 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.

Panorama of the Orkhon

References

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

"Сэлэнгэ мөрөн". www.medeelel.mn. Retrieved on July 16, 2007.

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