Achit Lake

Achit Nuur lies at around 1,400 metres on the road between Olgii and Ulaangom, a shallow freshwater lake of some three hundred square kilometres with low shores and reed patches, and it holds fish in numbers, which is why it draws both fishermen and birds. Waterfowl breed and stage here in quantity: swans, geese, cranes, gulls and waders, along with the Dalmatian pelicans that are scarce across their range. Kazakh and Tuvan herders camp on the shores through the summer with sheep, goats and horses, and fishing supplements herding for some families. The lake is exposed and windy, and the shoreline can be marshy and mosquito-ridden in warm weather. It is a natural stop on the drive between the two western provincial capitals rather than a destination people travel to specifically.

What you actually see

• The open lake - a large shallow freshwater sheet in open steppe.
• Breeding waterfowl - swans, geese, cranes and pelicans.
• Herder camps - summer pastoral settlements along the shore.
• Fishing - local nets and lines on the water.

When to go

June to September for birds and passable tracks. Migration in spring and autumn brings the largest numbers. Wind is constant and the shore is exposed, so camping needs a sheltered spot.

Honest expectations

There are no facilities of any kind: no camp, no shop, no shelter. Mosquitoes and biting flies are severe in summer near the water. The shore is marshy in places and vehicles get stuck. It is a stop on a longer journey rather than a place with anything organised for visitors.

Nearby

Olgii lies southwest; Uvs Lake and Ulaangom are northeast.