The Burkhan Khaldun (Mongolian: Бурхан Халдун [pʊ́rχaɴ‿χáɬtʊɴ]) is a mountain in the Khentii Mountains of the Khentii Province in northeastern Mongolia. This mountain or its area is believed to be the birthplace of Genghis Khan and the location of his tomb. It is also where Subutai, one of Genghis Khan's most successful generals, was born.

The mountain is part of the 12,000 square kilometers (4,600 square miles) Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area, which was created in 1992. Before Genghis Khan made it a powerful landmark, the mountain had strong religious importance. It is now considered the most sacred mountain in Mongolia because Genghis Khan declared it sacred. In 2015, the mountain was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name "Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape." A presidential decree from 1995 officially recognized the mountain as a place for worship and declared it a national monument. The area has a complex ecosystem with unique biodiversity, including plants from the Central Asian steppe. It is home to 50 species of animals and 253 species of birds.

Geography

Burkhan Khaldun is located in the northeast of Mongolia, within the Khentii mountain range. It is an important part of the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area, which was created in 1992 and covers 12,000 square kilometers (4,600 square miles).

The name "Burkhan Khaldun" means "God Mountain" or "Buddha Mountain." It is also known as Khentii Khan, which means "The King of the Khentii Mountain Range." It is the highest mountain in the Khentii Mountains of northeastern Mongolia, reaching an elevation of 2,362 meters (7,749 feet). The mountain has a crescent shape.

Burkhan Khaldun is the source of several rivers. The Kherlen River flows into Hulun Lake, which sometimes overflows into the Amur Basin during years of heavy rainfall. The Onon River flows through other rivers into the Amur, which eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. The Tuul, Kharaa, and Yeruu rivers flow northward to join the Selenge River, which flows into Lake Baikal.

The area around Burkhan Khaldun has a complex ecosystem with unique plant and animal life. This region is described as a "transition zone" between Siberian permafrost landforms and the great steppe.

History

In The Secret History of the Mongols, Genghis Khan, who later became known as the "World Conqueror" and believed strongly in his destiny, stated:

Genghis Khan began his efforts to unite the people and lands of Mongolia into a powerful group. He honored the Burkhan Khaldun mountain as a sacred and royal place. The Secret History of the Mongols records this story. In 1990, UNESCO recognized this document as a "literary creation of outstanding universal significance." Within this text, the Burkhan Khaldun mountain is described in detail and named 27 times, showing its important role in Mongolia’s heritage. The document confirms the realness of the site, stating:

A Presidential Decree from 1955 officially recognized the worship of the Burkhan Khaldun Mountain as a national monument. Special ceremonies are held at the main "Ovoo of the Heaven" following specific steps. These ceremonies are only allowed for certain government officials, local leaders, shamans, and a few Buddhist monks.

World Heritage status

Burkhan Khaldun was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site during the 39th meeting of the World Heritage Committee on July 4, 2015. It was named "Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape." The site covers an area of 443,739 hectares (about 1,096,500 acres) and includes a buffer zone of 271,651 hectares (about 671,260 acres). It was chosen under Criterion (iv) because of its special way of honoring mountains and nature over thousands of years, and under Criterion (vi) because of its important story from history and literature that many people know.

Religious significance

Burkhan Khaldun is a mountain in Mongolia with great spiritual importance. It is considered the "cradle" of Mongolia's nationhood and represents the heritage and traditions of Mongolia's nomadic people. Some Mongolians believe, though this is not confirmed, that Genghis Khan was born here and is buried somewhere in the mountain. This belief adds to the mountain's holiness, especially because Genghis Khan himself worshipped here and declared it the most sacred place in Mongolia.

This belief strengthens the mountain's spiritual meaning. People often visit the mountain to make pilgrimages to three major sacred stone cairns, called ovoos, located along a specific route. Along this route, Mongolian shamanic worship is practiced. The route includes: the Main Ovoo of Heaven at the mountain's peak, passing through Gurvan Khoriud ("Three Forbidden Precincts"); the Uud Mod ("Two Trees of Entrance"); the Bosgo Tengeriin Davaa ("Threshold Pass of Heaven"); the area where the Kherlen River begins and the Sacred Bogd Rivers flow; and finally, the Beliin ("Lowest") ovoo.

Flora

The plants in the mountain area are part of the Central Asian steppe and include coniferous forests from the taiga. Among the plant species found here, 28 are listed in the Mongolian Red Book, 15 are very rare, and 28 are classified as rare. Species on the IUCN Red List are also present: two are critically endangered, four are endangered, and eight are vulnerable.

Fauna

In the area of the Burkhan Khaldun Mountain in the Khentii district, more than 50 species from 27 genera across six animal groups have been reported. These include five species of insect-eating mammals, four species of hymenoptera (insects like bees), four species of lagomorpha (animals like rabbits and hares), 19 species of rodents, 13 species of predators, five species of ungulates (hoofed animals), one species of reptile, and 253 species of birds. According to the Mongolian Red Data Book, the very rare mammal species are the musk deer (Moshus moshiferus) and the moose (Alces alces). The very rare bird species include the Siberian white crane (Grus leucogeranus), Greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga), Pallas’s fish eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus), white-naped crane (Grus vipio), and hooded crane (Grus monacha). The very rare fish species is the Amur sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii).