Orhon River
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The Orhon River (old Turkish Orkhon, Orchon and also Orhun', Mongolian Orhon Gol) is a river in Mongolia. It rises in the Khangay mountains of Arhangay Aimag and flows northwards for 1,124 km (698 miles) before joining the Selenga River, which flows north into Russia and Lake Baikal. The Orhon is exactly 100 km longer than the Selenga, making it the longest river in Mongolia. Major tributaries of the Orhon River are the Tuul River and Tamir River.
There are two sets of ancient ruins along the river valley: Khara Balgassoun, the ancient capital of the Uyghur Kingdom and Khara Horin, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire. Pyotr Kuzmich Kozlov found several Hunnic Imperial tombs in the area of the river valley.
The Orhon River features the Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall, ten meters wide and twenty meters high. The waterfall is a popular destination for tourists. Fish in the Orhon River include pike, carp, perch and catfish.
UNESCO lists the Orhon Valley as a World Heritage Site.
