Data Zone
Country/territory: Mongolia
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 14,800 hectares (148.00 km2)
Site description (2007 baseline)
The site comprises a freshwater lake in the southwest of Santmargats soum. Only the Mukhar Khunguin River enters the lake, and there is no outflow. The Mukhar Khunguin River delta is a rich wetland. The lake is frozen from November to May. The lake is surrounded
by mountains, and the Bor Khar sand dunes lie to the south. The primary land use is livestock grazing. The lake has good recreational potential.
Key biodiversity
Three Globally Threatened species are found at the site: Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus (VU); Pallas's Fisheagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus (VU); and Saker Falcon Falco cherrug (VU). The site regularly supports at least 1% of the flyway populations of Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus and Dalmatian Pelican.
Non-bird biodiversity: No information is available on other fauna and flora.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Santmargatsyn Bayan Lake (Mongolia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/santmargatsyn-bayan-lake-iba-mongolia on 26/12/2024.