Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake

Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake
Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake
LocationTariat, Arkhangai, Mongolia
Coordinates48°10′15″N 99°43′20″E / 48.17083°N 99.72222°E / 48.17083; 99.72222
Basin countriesMongolia
Max. length16 km (9.9 mi)
Max. width4–10 km (2.5–6.2 mi)
Surface area61 km2 (24 sq mi)
Average depth20 m (66 ft)
Surface elevation2,060 m (6,760 ft)
Official nameTerhiyn Tsagaan Nuur
Designated6 July 1998
Reference no.953

Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake (Mongolian: Тэрхийн Цагаан нуур, IPA: [tʰerxíɴ t͡sʰaʁáɴ nʊ́ːr]) is a freshwater lake in Tariat, Arkhangai, Mongolia. It flows through the Khangai Mountains. The lake is located 670 km from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar and 180 km from the center of Tariat.

The Khorgo volcano is located near the eastern end of the lake, 10 rivers join this lake and only the Suman River springs from it. The lake is located in Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park. According to the joint 2022 study of Mongolia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism and World Wide Fund for Nature, the area of the lake decreased by 6.4% from 7950.0 ha in 1995 to 7440.1 ha in 2015. This resulted in reduction of wetlands areas by 23.5% and increase by 39.4% of sands and eroded lands surrounding the lake.