Traveling Darkhad Depression and Experience the Nomadic Life of Tsaatan People
Traveling to the Darkhad Depression in Northern Mongolia and exploring it's enchanting landscape and the local Darkhad's nomadic culture would be a great adventure and experience. The area can be reach by foot or by horseback and it is a wonderful hidden place in Mongolia that represents the life in nature's cradle.
According to the Lonely Planet, the Darkhad Depression is located at the west of Khövsgöl Nuur behind a wall of mountains. Its majestic prairie land, forest with 300 lakes sprawled over the vast plains. The Darkhad Depression almost has the same size as Khövsgöl Nuur and was also created from a glacial lake. The region is quite hard to reach however, the Tsaatan people, native inhabitants of the valley are living in the land with their simple nomadic culture and traditions. In Mongolia, the area is also known for Shamanism.
Nomadic Tsaatan people live in the Taiga forest in summer in East Sayan Mountains along the Russian and Mongolian border with Tuva. And when winter season comes, they go down to the valleys, the Mongolia Attraction wrote. The nomadic group also known as reindeer herdsmen and hunt animals for furs. Reindeers are also not kept for food for them, it is use for transportation and for the source of milk. Travelers can also experience the way of their living. They dwell at a tent house called urtz, similar to Indian tepees or Lapp tents.
Darkhard Depression is also the best-watered regions in Mongolia. The most common fish found in the lakes are white carp and trout, Salmon and huge taimen. However, when summer season comes, insects invade the area. Travelers can also can also stay in the native Tsaatans' place. Tsaatan people are mostly hospitable and welcome travelers. To roam around the Darkhad, travelers can hire locals to tour them around the area on foot or on horseback.
The Darkhad Depression is an ideal place who wants to experience the simple life in nature and the nomadic culture of the native Tsaatan. Winter camps in the area are also reachable by jeep, whereas the rest of the year, travelers must come on horseback.