Sukhbaatar Aimag (Province)
Sukhbaatar aimag's territory lies on the southern parts of the Great Eastern Plains of Mongolia and belongs to steppe region. The northern and northwestern parts of the aimag have many mountains and hills such as Munkhkhaan mountain range with steep sides and pointy crown. Sounthern parts of the aimag lie in the mountain steppe zone of Dariganga Volcano Region which includes the highest peaks of Eastern Mongolia steppe. In between of this 2 regions lays plain steppe. Aimag's total border length is 1,340km and borders with the People's Republic of China to the south for 485km, Dornogovi aimag to the west for 165km, Khentii aimag to the north for 260km and Dornod aimag to the northeast for 430km respectively. Most of the territory of the aimag is elevated at 1,000 to 1,200m above the sea level. The highest point, Shiliin Bogd Mountain, is elevated at 1,778m above the sea level and the lowest point, Baishint Region, is elevated at 790m above the sea level.
Mostly steppe animals inhabit the area. Antelope, marmot, wolf, fox, steppe fox, badger, wildcat, skunk, rabbit, gopher and porcupine are widely found throughout the aimag. Khar Yamat area of Tumentsogt sum in the northern parts of the aimag, Lkhanchinvandad area of Erdenetsagaan sum in the southern parts are a home to a deer and a roe deer. Argali the mountain wild sheep inhabits the Khavtsal, Delgerkhaan Malgar mountain of Tuvshinshiree sum in the western parts of the aimag. Black tailed antelope inhabits the Ongon, Bayandelger and Naran sums in the southwest of the aimag. The population of the antelopes is reducing year by year. In 1997, about 256 thousand antelopes were counted officially but in 2004, the antelope population is reduced to 95 thousand. Many species of birds including dove, eagle, vulture, lark, swallow, crow, kite, falcon, hawk, buzzard, owl, barred owl, magpie, common owl, hoopoe and partridge live in the area. Some species like demoiselle crane, whooper swan, bustard, duck, goose, Pallas's sand grouse, mandarin duck, sea gull and cuckoo migrate through the area. Endangered species of birds like whooper swan and houbara bustard inhabit the lakes of Dariganga.
The aimag has many unique scenic places. About 200 extinct volcanoes exist in Dariganga sum. The 127 to 248 kilometer square Ongon and Moltsog sand dunes stretch through Dariganga and Ongon sums territory. Strictly protected Lkhanchinvandad mountain is located in Erdenetsagaan sum. The aimag has many caves including 70 some caves of Bayan Uul in Munkhkhaan sum, Bayandulaan and Talyn caves located in Naran and Dariganga sums. Ancient animal and plant fossils can be found in Baishint, Khodoodiin Govi, and Khorgoljingiin Tal, and vast areas with stone formations including Log, Budar, Zaraa, Turungu, Delgerkhaan and Khargiltai are occur in here.
