SPACEPHOTOS

Located in the lower right portion of the image, the ice-covered Uvs Lake, the largest salt lake in Mongolia, can be seen in this southeast-looking view. Covering an area of 1300 sq. miles (3370 sq. km), Uvs Lake has an average depth of only 20 feet (6 meters) with a maximum depth reaching 33 feet (10 meters). Situated in a basin, the lake is now part of a protected area by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program for global change research. The range of ecological zones in this relatively small area of the Uvs Lake Basin is matched by few places in the world according to scientist working in the program. To the east (left) of the lake are the dunes of the Altan Els or “Golden Sands”. Uvs Lake is fringed by marshes. The Turgen Mountains, with small glaciers and permanent snow, are visible to the north of the lake (bottom left of the image). The Tsagaan Shuvuut Range is discernible to the south of the Altan Els (upper left of the image). The partially ice-covered Hyargas or Khirgiz Lake can be seen in the upper right portion of the image.