Bogd Khan Uul Biosphere Reserve, Biosphere reserve near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Bogd Khan Uul Biosphere Reserve is a protected area in the Khentii Mountains, located just south of Ulaanbaatar. The northern slopes are covered in dense conifer forest, while the southern slopes are rocky and bare, giving the area two very different faces.
The area has been under protection since the 13th century, when Tooril Khan, a Kerait ruler, banned logging and hunting in these mountains. This early decree makes it one of the oldest known protected areas in the world.
The mountain is considered sacred in Mongolian Buddhism, and prayer flags and offerings left at various spots are easy to notice along the way. People come here to take part in ceremonies that have remained part of religious life in Mongolia for generations.
The reserve has several hiking trails for different levels of experience, and the northern routes pass through shaded forest while the southern ones cross more open, sun-exposed ground. It is a good idea to go early in the day to make the most of cooler temperatures.
The reserve sits right on the edge of a capital city, yet it supports populations of musk deer, Siberian ibex, and red deer. It is rare to find wildlife of this kind living so close to a major urban area.
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