page_title: Selenge-Orkhon forest steppe
section_title: Location and description
hierarchical_section_title: Selenge-Orkhon forest steppe / Location and description
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Die Selenga ca. 100-200 km von der russischen Grenze Wann: 9.2005 English: The Selenge River in Mongolia about 100-200 km from the Russian border.
context_page_description: The Selenge-Orkhon forest steppe ecoregion stretches across north central Mongolia, and follows the Selenga River northeast into Russia. The ecoregion is itself at high elevations, but surrounded by higher mountain ranges. As a transition zone between taiga and steppe, it features conifer forests on the north slopes of mountains, and pine/aspen stands on southern slopes. It has an area of 227,660 square kilometres.
context_section_description: The ecoregion spans roughly 1,000 km, from the Khan-Khokhi mountains in the Baruunturuun district of western Mongolia, to Ulan-Ude, the capital city of Buryatia in Russia, just east of Lake Baikal.  Along the way it passes through the drainage basin of the upper Selenge River and its tributaries, the valley of the Orkhon River, and along the Selenge River Valley into Russia.  In the middle, the ecoregion wraps around the higher forested area of the Khangai Mountains.  The mean altitude of the area is 800-1200 meters, with peaks ranging up to 2900 meters.
caption: Selenge River, 100-200 km from Russian border.  Note trees on hillside.
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