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Photo: Original uploader was Jan Sysel at cs.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Uvs Lake is the largest lake in Mongolia, often described as a gigantic inland sea in the middle of the desert. The majority of the lake is in Mongolia with a small portion in the north in Tuva, Russia. Uvs Lake is a highly saline lake and thus cannot support aquatic life. The Uvs Nuur Basin is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Uvs Lake is a highly saline lake, contained within the endorheic basin named after it—Uvs Nuur Basin. It is primarily located in Mongolia, with a smaller part in Russia. It is the largest lake in Mongolia by surface area, covering 3,350 km2 at 759 m above sea level. The northeastern tip of the lake is situated in the Tuva Republic of the Russian Federation. The largest settlement near the lake is Ulaangom. This shallow and very saline body of water is a remainder of a huge saline sea which covered a much larger area several thousand years ago.
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Founded in 1757, this monastery once hosted 2,000 monks. However, after being destroyed in 1937, the monastery never recovered, and it remains a shadow of its former glory.
The museum features exhibits on the ethnic groups of Uvs, local wildlife, archaeological finds, and paintings from local artists. In addition, the museum features a wing dedicated to former Mongolian People's Republic leader, Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal, who was born in Uvs. This wing houses original photographs, possessions, and information on Yu. Tsedenbal and his family.