
'Tuul River' flowing through Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
'Tuul River' (, ''tuul gol''; in older sources also 'Tola') is a river in central and northern
Mongolia. It is 704 km long and drains an area of 49,840 square km.
Originating in
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park in the
Khentii Mountains, this body of water runs through the southern part of the Mongolian capital of
Ulan Bator. It is a tributary of the
Orkhon River, which flows into the
Selenge River, which flows into
Russia and
Lake Baikal. The Tuul River also flows along the
Khustain Nuruu National Park. It is typically frozen over from the middle of November through the middle of April. Willow forests grow along the Tuul River, and the river itself is home to endangered species of
sturgeon.
Currently the river is suffering from
pollution, some caused by Ulan Bator's central sewage treatment facility, as well as heavy mineral and
sedimentation pollution caused by
gold mining in the
Zaamar area. In addition, the steady influx of people settling near the river may be causing an increase in poor water quality.
External links
★ UNESCO
paper on water usage in Mongolia, including information on the Tuul River
★ Scientific
analysis of Tuul River flows (PDF format)
★
Report on effects of gold mining on the Tuul River
★ Investors'
report on gold deposits in the Tuul River basin
★
Photo album of the Tuul River
★
Report on environmental problems in Hustai National Park and the Tuul River valley