Mongolia - Amarbayasgalant Monastery and its Surrounding Sacred Cultural Landscape

"The complex of Amarbayasgalant Monastery was built during 1727-1736, in the honour of Undur Gegeen Zanabazar, the first Bogd, Buddhist leader of Mongolia. He was also a Founder of the Mongol School of religious art and created the minted Buddha Statues that are now highly respected and recognized worldwide. The architectures of this monastery are in perfect harmony with nature and environment. It is situated in the cul-de-sac of a long, deep valley backed by the sheef cliff of Burenkhan Mountain against which the monastery is built. The valley is well-watered by the Evin River and has long been renowned for its rich vegetation and pasture land. In particular thick groves of native Mongolian cherries have attracted people since ancient times until the present and are the reason for the association of this valley with theologies of fertility, re-birth and gardens of paradise."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Mongolia - Sacred Mountains of Mongolia

1. Otgontenger Mountain Otgon soum, Zavkhan province 2. Eej Khairkhan Mountain Tsogt soum, Govi-Altai province 3. Khanbayanzurkh Mountain Sainshand soum, Dornogovi province 4. The Great Bogd Mountian Bogd, Jinst, Bayangovi and Bayanlig soums, Bayankhongor province 5. Altan Ovoo Mountain Dariganga soum, Sukhbaatar province 6. Sutai Khairkhan Mountain Tonkhil and Darvi soums, Govi-Altai province; and Darvi and Tsetseg soums, Khovd province 1. Otgontenger Mountain N49° 30' 50" E97° 20' 50" 2. Eej Khairkhan Mountain N44° 56' 65" E44° 56' 30.65" 3. Khanbayanzurkh Mountain N44° 41' 38" E111° 02' 43" 4. The Great Bogd Mountian N44° 59' 35" E100° 13' 55" 5. Altan Ovoo Mountain N45° 21' 49" E114° 30' 50" 6. Sutai khairkhan Mountain N46° 38' 07" E93° 32' 35" Over the years, some of the mountains became venerated as sacred places, which are the “combined works of nature and man” and cultural landscapes of the highest order. Proposed serial property bears a unique living cultural tradition in Central and Northeast Asia of worshipping sacred natural sites such as mountains. The tradition of worshipping sacred mountains and waters is one of the outstanding cultural heritage elements created, developed and practiced by Mongolians since ancient times. The tradition initially developed and thrived during shamanic period and was later enriched with Buddhist ideologies and rituals. This significantly contributed to the preservation of our natural environment and wildlife as sacred and pristine. The tradition of worshipping mountains has very specific customs and rituals. There are many wonderful intangible cultural heritage elements associated with the worship of sacred mountains that have been preserved and continue to thrive, such as chanting sutras and sharing folk knowledge, legends, benedictions, odes, epics, folk songs, folk art and performing art.

Mongolia - Petroglyphic Complexes in the Mongolian Gobi

1. Petroglyphic complex of Del Uul mountain Ulziit soum, Dundgovi province N44 27 12.3 E105 47 26.4 2. Petroglyphic complex of Bichigtiin Am Bayanlig soum, Bayankhongor province N44 17 11.8 E100 31 20.7 3. Petroglyphic complex of Javkhlant Khairkhan mountain Khanbogd soum, Umnugovi province N42 53 36.5 E106 53 36.5 Petroglyphs considered as one of the most widespread cultural heritage of the world, and Mongolia is one of the countries that rich with it. The following three petroglyphic complexes are outstanding representatives of the petroglyphs in the Mongolian Gobi. 1. Petroglyphic complex of Del Uul mountain The mountain Del Uul, stretches 25 km from east to west and is located in the territory of Ulziit soum, Dundgobi province. From its lower base to the peak the eastern face of the mountain is covered with petroglyphs of various types of animals, human beings and symbols that engraved in different historical time period. Animal images such as ibexes, horses, riders, camel, and anthropomorphic images are the most common. 2. Petroglyphic complex of Bichigtiin Am The petroglyphs of Bichigtiin Am are entirely concentrated on a one small rocky mountain rising abruptly from the deep valley of Bichigtiin Am, Ikh Bayan mountain of Bayanlig soum, Bayankhongor province. There are hundreds of images of human beings, animals and symbols (tamga) there were engraved by the prehistoric people on the rocks. The first petroglyphs were likely to have been made approximately 3000 years ago BCE and people had continued to add illustrations until the 8th century CE. Men riding horse or camel with horse, cattle and camel herds as well as hunting scenes and men with carts are common image among these rock arts. Men are illustrated riding horse with or without saddle. An image of cattle pulling a plough and man directing it is one of the rare artefacts related to farming found in Mongolian Gobi region. 3. Petroglyphic complex of Javkhlant Khairkhan mountain The mountain of Javkhlant Khairkhan is higher than the mountains nearby. West of this mountain there are two hills in line, in south there is a wide steppe and in north there is a valley and dry river – this landscape make this mountain special and important. Therefore the local herders venerate and worship this mountain naming as “Khairkhan” and they maintain an ovoo (cairn) on its peak. This is connected with ancient peoples’ beliefs and worship as well – they engraved hundreds of petroglyphs on the rocks of this mountain. There are over 200 petroglyphic scenes of which most of them are engraved at the top.

Mongolia - Highlands of Mongol Altai

1. Altai Tavan Bogd National Park 48 54 52.60N 88 4 33.06E 2. Siilkhem mountain National Park, Part "A" 49 25 59.89N 88 33 28.53E 3. Siilkhem mountain National Park, Part "B" 49 49 21.42N 89 44 56.84E The Mongolian Altai Mountains constitute a major and central part of the Altai mountain range located at the junction of Central Asia and Siberia. The Mongol Altai has many summits around or even exceeding 4000 meters above sea level (m.a.sl.) and stretches for some 900 kilometres from the north-western part of the country to the south, through the territories of Bayan-Ulgii and Khovd provinces. Over 20 peaks are capped with eternal snow in the Mongol Altai Mountain Range. These include Altai Tavan Bogd, the highest peak of Mongolia at 4,374 m.a..s.l., Munkh Khairkhan (4,204 m.a.s.l), Sutai Khairkhan (4,226 m.a.s.l) and Tsambagarav khairkhan (4,195 m.a.s.l.). Towards the southeast, the Mongol Altai Mountain Range gets smaller and transitions into the Govi-Altai mountain range. In the Chinese and Kazakh parts of the Altai, the slopes in the montane and sub-alpine belts are covered in forests, whereas the Mongolian Altai has a much drier climate. The high ridges of the Altai descend to large basins and dry steppes, that extend eastward across vast areas dominated by great inland seas in ancient times.

Mongolia - Funeral Sites of the Xiongnu Elite

1. Funeral site of the Xiongnu Elite at Noyon Uul mountain Batsumber, Bornuur , Mandal soums of Tuv province N48 33 44.7, E 106 30 32.5 2. Funeral site of the Xiongnu Elite at Gol Mod I Khairkhan, Erdenemandal soums of Arkhangai province N 48 19 38.2, E 101 55 02.0 3. Funeral site of the Xiongnu Elite at Gol Mod II Undur-Ulaan soum, Arkhangai province N48 00 22.7, E 101 12 26.6 4. Funeral site of the Xiongnu Elite at Duurlig Nars Bayan-Adarga soum, Khentii provine N48 32 40.9, E 111 04 42.9 5. Funeral site of the Xiongnu Elite at Takhiltyn Khotgor Mankhan soum, Khovd province N47 24 14.3, E 092 06 34.5 The Xiongnu, who are the ancient ancestors of the Mongols of today, was the First Empire to be established by the nomadic people living in the grasslands of Central Asia. The Xiongnu Empire occupied a vast territory extending north and south from Yellow River to Lake Baikal, and east and west from Manchuria to Altai Mountains.

Mongolia - Eastern Mongolian Steppes

1. Eastern Mongolian Strictly Protected Area 116 16 49.799 E 46 8 13.135 N 116 11 39.766 E 46 36 4.169 N 117 21 52.927 E 46 49 49.737 N 118 15 28.66 E 46 42 55. 58 N 117 22 6.248 E 46 21 38.269 N 118 27 45.617 E 46 44 26.753 N 2. Toson Khulstai National Park 112 29 42.532 E 48 17 24.388 N 112 58 5.412 E 48 21 5 .353 N 113 56 45.156 E 48 41 53.5 N 112 38 25.5 8 E 47 5 11.819 N 3. Bayantsagaan Steppe Natural Reserve 112 48 26.969 E 47 15 23.852 N 113 51 44.12 E 47 35 41.292 N 113 25 55. 89 E 47 6 .93 N 113 51 59.29 E 47 13 17.493 N 4. Jaran Togoon Steppe (two areas) 114 2 E, 47 17 N 114 2 E 47 5 N 5. Yakhi Nuur Natural Reserve 114 3 43.367 E 48 33 29.468 N 114 51 5 .336 E 48 56 34.459 N 114 22 24.313 E 49 5 37. 5 N 112 58 5.412 E 48 21 5 .353 N The Eastern Mongolian Steppes are home to the largest remaining intact temperate grasslands of the Earth. The ecosystem of Eastern Mongolian Steppes is characterized by treeless flat steppes, gently rolling hills, wetlands, and interlinkages with the Khyangan Mountain Range all the way to the border with the People’s Republic of China. The proposed serial property has five components with a total surface area of some 2 million ha, outstanding components representing the vast ecosystem. The Eastern Steppes are an exceptional ecoregion within the vast Eurasian Steppes spanning from the European Pannonian Steppe to the Mongolian-Manchurian grasslands due to its intactness, relatively high altitude and northern latitude. The main distinctive characteristic of the proposed property compared to other steppe ecosystems is that it is dominated by grasslands across thousands of square kilometres with several species of bush and shrubbery. The herds of an estimated 1.5 to 2 million of Mongolian white-tailed gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) are an inseparable element of the ecosystem, both inhabiting and shaping it. Furthermore, 25 species of mammals, 174 species of birds, 2 species of amphibians and 5 species of reptiles have been recorded.

Mongolia - Deer Stone Monuments, the Heart of Bronze Age Culture

1. Bronze Age complex site with deer stones at Uushgiin Uvur Burentogtokh soum, Khuvsgul province N49 40 22.3, E100 4128.1 2. Bronze Age complex site with deer stones at Khoid Tamir valley Ikh Tamir and Battsengel soums of Arkhangai province N47 45 54.0, E101 23 21.0 3. Bronze Age complex site with deer stones at Jargalantyn Am Undur-Ulaan soum, Arkhangai province N48 10 18.2, E101 0533.8 Mongolia is rich with monuments and complex heritage sites that belong to Bronze Age culture. The main Bronze Age monuments are khirgisuurs, petroglyphs, stone sculptures such as deer stones and burial sites. The most exciting and elegant and valuable monument among Bronze Age complexes are deer stones. Deer stones will usually be found together with extraordinary monuments called khirgisuur, with slab burials or in some cases with petroglyphs forming a complex site.

Mongolia - Cretaceous Dinosaur Fossil Sites in the Mongolian Gobi

Bayanshiree N44-16-1320; E109-54-4864; A-730m Khongil Tsav N44-26-1904; E109-51-2928; A-744m Burkhant N44-20-2382; E109-51-3286; A-721m Baishin Tsav N43-30-0064; E107-45-5120; A-905m Khuurai Tsav N43-28-51 E107-44-37; A-904m Urulbu Khudag N43-27-29; E107-24-36; A-970m Shar Tsav N43-34-2845 E107-46-4231; A-896m Amtgai N43-33-5057; E107-54-4247; A-857m Bayanzag N44-08-4251; E103-43-1741; A-1275m Tugrugiin Shiree N44-13-4228; E103-18-0970; A-1043m Nemegt N43-30-0581; E101-02-5971; A-1521m Khermen Tsav N43-28-2896; E99-49-5871; A-991m Bugiin Tsav N43-51-5909; E100-00-3976; A-982m Palaeontologists still continue to discover fossils that prove the current territory of Gobi Desert had a very different climate and environment before 120 to 70 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. 120 million years ago the vast desert basins and valleys contained freshwater rivers and lakes with abundant water resources. And the prevailing humid climate was paradise for plants and animals, including dinosaurs. The fossil evidence of the origin, evolution, migration and extinction of prehistoric creatures are preserved in the sedimentary rocks of the Gobi desert. These evidences give knowledge and understanding of our mother land – the earth, and its history.

Mongolia - Baldan Bereeven Monastery and its Sacred Surroundings

The Baldan Bereeven Monastery and its associated landscape is situated in the long and deep valley of the Baruun Jargalant River and within several picturesque sacred mountains such as Munkh Ulziit, Arvan Gurvan Sansar, Bayan Baraat, Bayan Khangai which are mountain branches of The Khentii mountain range. Within this proposed area are located very beautiful Lake of Khangal in front of sacred mountain Bayan Baraat and Jargalant Ovoo (cairn) worshipped by indigenous nomadic people since ancient time. The Baldan Bereeven Monastery itself is located in the cul-de-sac of the valley of the Jargalant River backed by steep cliff of sacred Munkh Ulziit Mountain and the valley is well watered by the Jargalant River and has long been renowned for its rich vegetation and pasture for domestic animals and now by famous herdsmen people. Such kind of natural environment has attracted nomadic people since prehistoric times until the present and is the reason for the association of this valley with cultural, religious and worshipping sites.

Mongolia - Archaeological Site at Khuduu Aral and Surrounding Cultural LandscapeArchaeological Site at Khuduu Aral and Surrounding Cultural Landscape

Khuduu Aral of Kherlen river and surrounding cultural landscape covers the most part of Delgerkhaan soum of Khentii province and lays between Kherlen river (from west and south), and Tsenkher river (from east) and covers over 100.000 hectare area. The cultural landscape of Khuduu Aral draws boundary between mountainous zone and dry steppe zone. This area is very famous with its pleasant pasture land, verified therapeutical mineral water of Avarga spring and Toson Lake, and rare animals and endemic plants and beautiful natural landscape. The Mt. Kherlenbayan-Ulaan (elongates 30-40 km) is situated at the north of Khuduu Aral and has a considerable number of historical and archaeological sites from the Stone Age to the 18th century CE. The valuable findings discovered from the sites associated with the period of the Mongolian Empire are considered very important for study. The Mountain bears a testimony of the traditional sacrificial and ritual practices, nomadic culture, and pasture use and protection. It is also famous with its, rare in the world, stipa steppe.

Mongolia - Sacred Binder Mountain and its Associated Cultural Heritage Sites

Located in Batshireet soum of Khentii province, sacred Binder Mountain and its associated cultural heritage sites are inseparable part of the Khentii Mountain rang in centre of which the Mongolian most sacred mountain Burkhan Khaldun is situated. Proposed property and the sacred Burkhan Khaldun Mountain are located in same geographical zone and belong to same type of cultural landscape of same historic-cultural group, though they situated separately from each other. The nominated property bears an exceptional evidence of the existence of human beings within grassland steppe region at the juncture of Central and North East Asia, which offers a uniquely extensive view of nomadic culture and its communities from Palaeolithic time to the present. There are many cultural, archaeological and worship vestiges dated from Palaeolithic period through the Bronze, Iron Ages and the successive historical periods including the Binder Ovoo (cairn) of the sacred Binder Mountain, stone aged archaeological sites of Rashaan Khad, the huge number of burial and ceremonial sites, deer stones and rock arts, within and around of the nominated landscape.