Otgontenger Mountain in Zavkhan

Otgontenger Mountain is a sacred mountain located in Otgon soum and Aldarkhaan soum of Zavkhan province. This state worshipped mountain is 4021m tall and the peak is snowcapped. Relatively flat surfaces of the peaks and numerous lakes and ponds indicate that Otgontenger Mountain once had a glacier. All of the rivers that take their source from the mountain become tributaries of Zavkhan River. Mongolians worshipped Otgontenger Mountain since 1779 but the tradition got lost during the soviet era. And in 1995, the sacred mountain has officially become state worshipped mountain again and a presidential decree to worship Otgontenger every four years was signed. But even before that, the mountain and the area surrounding it became a strictly protected area in 1992.