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The Mongolian Khan Khentii Expedition 2023

East of Ulaanbaatar, the Khentii mountain range rises out of a vast protected area covering 1.2 million hectares covering the transition zone between the taiga and mountain forest steppe.

The cedar and larch forests only grow on the Northern slopes, whilst on the Southern side of the mountains there are grasslands.

The highest peaks stand above the tree line and are rocky, wide and flat, often snow clad. Lower down the terrain has lakes, wetlands, icefields and sometimes hot springs. Three great rivers flow through the region. Much of this remote wilderness is uninhabited and accessible only on foot or horse.

Over 1000 plant species and 50 mammals, including endangered moose, musk deer, brown bear, wolf, lynx, badger, fox, wolverine, marmot, weasel, sable, roe deer and maral can be found here. Bird lovers will be able to see up to 250 types of birds, including hooper swans, spoonbills, egrets and raptors.

However, the Khentii has an ancient history of human population as this is an ideal country for herding and hunting, with plenty of grass in the summer and shelter for animals in the winter.
The forests provided the nomads with wild meat, fruit, furs and timber. Minerals including gold, tungsten, asbestos, uranium, iron, copper, manganese and tin as well as coal and fluoride are other natural resources here.

The rich heritage of human settlement in Khentii is marked with numerous rock carvings of the Upper Palaeolithic and Stone Age period, deer stones (or stelae) and Bronze age tombs. There is also the mysterious Great Wall of Chinggis Khaan, or Ghenghis Khan as he is often referred to currently. Indeed, it is firmly believed by the Mongolian people that the legendary leader and warrior was born in the Hentii and is buried in the area.

Burkhan Khaldun mountain (7750 feet) is alleged to be where the conqueror lies. However, although many attempts have been made to locate his grave it has yet to be found and generally Mongolians do not favour it being disturbed.

Numerous historical sites are linked to Ghengis Khan and the Buddist culture has its famous Baldan Bereeven Monastery, destroyed by the communists in 1937 but reconstructed in the 1990s.

June and July are the height of summer which usually have warm, dry weather, although sudden storms can always occur throughout Mongolia and at the higher altitudes it will be cold at night. Daytime temperatures up to 25°C are usual.

The expedition will be carrying out community aid projects, giving dental and medical help to the local people and performing archaeological, biological and zoological tasks with Mongolian scientists. The scientific studies are organised with the support of the National University by Professor Terbish, who has accompanied our expeditions since 1992.

Travel will be by horse and four wheel drive vehicles. Accommodation will be in tents provided by our agents. At the end of the expedition there will be 2 days in the Khustain Nuruu National

Park (West of Ulaanbaatar) studying the Przewalski horses and carrying out zoological research.

The dates are 28 June (arrival in Ulaanbaatar) to 17 July (depart from Ulaanbaatar).

I shall be leading the expedition and those interested should contact me for more details.
Colonel John Blashford-Snell CBE
Expedition Base
New Lane
Motcombe
SP7 9PB
Email: jbs@ses-explore.org
Phone: 01747 854456

The Dorset explorers are looking for donations of used small/medium sized binoculars that we can present to conservationists and wildlife rangers in Mongolia.
To donate or to find out more information, please contact Shirley at 07873494647