Govi-Altai Aimag (Province)
This aimag is bordered with Bayankhongor to the east, Zavkhan to the north, Khovd to the west, and with the P.R. of China to the south. The aimag's territory belongs to Altai mountainous and Gobi desert zones. Most parts of the aimag lay on Gobi desert zone. 600 million years old clump and rocks that shows last ice age features and marks have been found in Khasagt Khairkan and surrounding mountains. At the both sides of these mountains, broad gobi steppes with humps and hollows lie that dominates the aimag's territory. These steppes formed in Mesozoic era and remained unchanged during the movements of lithosphere plates that produce mountains. Absolute average height of the gobi and cavities is 743-1,100m. The 10 of the 33 famous gobi of Mongolia are in this aimag. The lowest point is Tsenkher Nomin's gobi (583m) and the highest mountain is Sutai Khairhan mountain with the height of 4,090m followed by Aj Bogd (3,802m), Burkhan Buudai (3,765m), Alag Khairhan (3,738m), Khasagt Khairkhan (3,578m), Bus Khairkhan (3,393m), and Buga Khairkhan respectively.
Traces of huge rhinoceros from Paleogene period was found in Khaliun and Biger sums, and in Altain sum's Khaich mountain, Ulaan Ganga, Eej Khairkhan mountain, Bugat sum's Bungiin river. Also traces of ancient birds, shells, elephants belonging to Miocene epoch, Neogene period and ancient horse belonging to Paleocene epoch had been found from a one spot in Shargyn Govi. The 32% of the aimag is a part of the gobi strictly protected area which is divided into A and B sections.
- A section covers 45,149km² area starting at the state southern borders that lie in Byankhongor and Govi-Altai aimags and continuing for 100km up to the north. Idrengiin mountains, Atas, Chingis, Segs Tsagaan Bogd, Arslan Khairkhan, Shiveet Ulaan, Lanzat, Tsaviluur, Khar range, Khutsyn Shand and other areas like Nomin, Tsenkher govi lies in this A section.
- B section is located in 250km from the Altai city and covers 8,000km² area starting at the state southern border at Khovd and Govi-Altai aimags. Altain southern gobi, Zuun Govi, Baruun Khuurai, Bor Tsonjiin Govi, Khonin Us's gobi lies within the territory of the B section. Total area of the gobi strictly protested area is 53,117km² and it is considered to be one of the biggest protected areas in the world. It has been registered as states strictly protected area since 1975. The strictly protected and natural reserve areas have many mountains such as Khasagt Khairkhan, state worshiped Sutai, Alag Khairhan, Burkhan Buudai mountain, Eej Khairhan mountain and Sharga-Mankhan field.
