Lake Uvs and its surrounding wetlands. 22/03/04; Uvs Province; 585,000 ha; 50°20'N E 092°45'E. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The largest saline lake in Mongolia with a small part lying in Russia, a unique wetland in desert-steppe landscape fringed by high mountain ranges; it has a maximum depth of 20m and freezes over from November to May. With reedbeds and river deltas it provides significant nesting and resting areas for 215 migratory waterbird species such as White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala), Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides), both 'endangered' in the Red List of IUCN, and many other nationally and globally threatened flora and fauna species including endemic fish Oreoleuciscus potanini, Oreoleuciscus pewzowi, Oreoleuciscus humilis, are supported. Some nomadic families live along the shorelines using wetlands as pasture and watering points. A joint transboundary protected area is planned in cooperation with Russian authorities. The potential exists for recreation and birdwatching and a management plan is in preparation. Ramsar site no. 1379. Most recent RIS information: 2004.