MOUNT ALTAN ÖVÖO

Altan Övöo is another extinct volcano, considered sacred by the locals. It was proclaimed a "sacred place" by the last Bogd Khan in 1913 during a ceremony that attracted Mongols from all over the country. A stupa was erected in 1990 to replace another stupa built in 1820 and destroyed in 1937.

Three man-stones are located on the slopes of Altan Övöo. Named "the khan, the queen and their son", these three statues are carved in marble, which is very rare in Mongolia. The region has about sixty man-stones (or balbal).