The river Buyant-Gol. Detailed guide. Information

THE BUYANT-GOL The river in the center of the Mongolian Altai mountains, right tributary of the river Kobdo-Gol. The source is on eastern slopes of the Central Mongolian Altai mountains. In the uper section the river flows in wide valley through small lakes to the north-east and is called the river Chigirtein-Gol. Downstream the confluence with tributary the Delun-Gol turns to the south-east and is called the Buyant-Gol, downstream of the tributary Nurtyn-Gol turns to north, flows through deep gorge (crossing the Khukh-Serkhtiin-Nuru mountains range), downstream outflows from the mountains, turns to the north-east, flows in wide valley through the Khovd town, downstream flows through semi-desert, the river divides to a lot of branches in the river delta. Inflows into the river Kobdo-Gol near Myandang village. Lenght of the river 237 km, basin area 8367 km². The river is fed mostly by rain, feeding from melting glaciers is small. The highest water level in the river is in June-July, in autumn the river dries, in winter freezes up. The major tributaries: left - the Nurt-Sala, Angirlag-Gol, Delun-Gol, Dund-Gol, Baga-Nariin-Gol, Uliastain-Gol; right - Chigirtein-Barun-Sala-Gol, Bugat-Gol, Arshantyn-Gol, Dzhangydz-Gol, Agachyin-Gol, Bugat-Gol, Aguityn-Gol, Nurtyn-Gol, Ar-Chudzhirtyn-Gol, Shivriin-Gol.



DETAILED GUIDE

0 km.The river meanders in wide valley, stream not strong, in places shallow rapids. (1+). Discharge approx. 10-15 m³/s. At the banks meadows, no trees.

On the road to the Buyant-Gol	Delun village	Put in point

4 km. Right tributary the Bugat-Gol. The mouth not visible. The river unchanged (1-). In places the banks swampy.

7 km. On the left the mountains come closer to the river. On the banks bushes.

7,5 km. In the riverbed stones occurs. Gradient become bigger. Shalow rapids, slalom between stones (2-). The lenght of section approx. 0.5 km.

8 km. In the riverbed shalow rapids, between them swift current. (1+/2-). At the banks good places to camp.

The upper section of the Buyant-Gol	Petroglyphs near the river	The upper section of the Buyant-Gol

17 km. Right the dry tributary. The river unchange (1/2-).

19 km. Right the dry tributary. Tributary valley are seen clearly. The river meanders, current speed decreases. Shalow rapids in places. (1/1+).

22 km. On the banks occurs trees. The river divides to the branches and flows between shrubs and trees. Can be strainers. The lenght of the section approx. 500 m (1-). At the end of branches on right bank a large glade, a huge boulder in the riverbed.

23 km. On right mountains is close to the river, the river makes a sharp turn to the right, gradient increases, on section of 500-800 m lenght in the riverbed shalow rapids, large stones (2). Dowstream the river calms, between rapids a long stretches, here is 3 short sections where the river flows between shrubs. Can be strainers. (1/2-).

The upper section of the Buyant-Gol	The branches in the upper section	At the tributary Aguityn-Gol

28 km. Right the tributary Aguityn-Gol. Tributary valley are seen clearly.

29 km. Right the tributary Nurtyn-Gol. The river turns to north and flows through the gorge. The gradient significantly increased. In turn to the left rapid "Nurtyn". (3-). Downstream the gradient is big, long easy rapids and drops, between them swift current. (2-, max. 2+). On the banks grows a large poplars. Good places to camp.

Rapid Ar-Chudzhirtyn 1st	Rapid Ar-Chudzhirtyn 2nd	The end of rapid Ar-Chudzhirtyn 2nd

32,5 km. The rapid Ar-Chudzhirtyn 1st (3). Starts after the river left turn, landmarks are not clear. The lenght of rapid approx. 200 m, the river width approx. 10 m. Drops up to 0,5 m height, in the riverbed stones, boulders. In the end of rapid, on the right turn, pressing to the rock left. To the next rapit approx. 15 m swift current. At left bank excellent place to camp.
The rapid Ar-Chudzhirtyn 2nd (4-). In the riverbed a lot of stones and boulders, slalom between them. The lenght of rapid approx 500 m, the river width up to 15 m. In the middle of rapid from right inflows the Ar-Chudzhirtyn. The left bank of the rapid very high steep rock.
The rapids Ar-Chudzhirtyn 3rd and Ar-Chudzhirtyn 4th similar to the second rapid, just a little bit easier (3+). Lenght of each rapid approx. 250 m. At the end of 4th, on the river left turn, easy pressing to the bank. Scouting of rapids easier on the right bank. Downstream gradient is bigger than 10 m/km, easy rapids, between them strong current. Can be dangerous the pressings on turns to the trees and bushes on the banks. (2+/3-, max.3).

Rapid Ar-Chudzhirtyn 2nd	Rapid Ar-Chudzhirtyn 2nd	Rapid Ar-Chudzhirtyn 3rd

39 km. Rapid "Exit" (4-). On the straight section of river, there are no clear landmarks. At the end of rapid, on the river bend to the left the brownish color scree. First part of rapid short (20 m lenght) and 1.5 height drop. Second part (70 m lenght) - slalom between boulders. The width of the S-shaped riverbed 5-7 m. Scouting easer by left bank
Downstream gradient decreases, easy rapids (2-/2). After 0,5 km steep drop of 0.5 m height. Downstream on the right bank the large glade, stands the gers. Approx. 0.5 km downstream rapid Ger (3+). On the straight section of river, can be seen from river. Lenght of the rapid approx. 200 m; in the riverbed a lot of boulders. Scouting left. Downstream the river calms, very easy rapids, in the riverbed in places islands.

Rapid "Exit"	Slenkstis "Ger'as"	The middle section of the Buyant-Gol

43 km. Left the dry tributary. Tributary valley are seen clearly. The river unchanged (2-).

47 km. The river divides to the branches (1/1+). At the banks a lot of gers.

52 km. The river flows in one riverbed. At right a high steep cliffs. Up to and afer left tributary the Dund-Gol 2 steep gradient easy rapids (2+).

52,5 km. Left tributary the Dund-Gol. Downstream the river calms, very easy rapids, swift current (2-). Approx. 2 km downstream in the riverbed a huge boulders, short (approx. 200 m lenght) rapid (2+/3-). At the end of section in the riverbed boulders and big stones, gradient increases. (2+).

The middle section of the Buyant-Gol	Rapid "Two pyramids"	Rapid "Narrow"

57 km. In the riverbed two large pyramid-shaped boulders - rapid "Two pyramids" (3+/4-). Lenght of rapid approx. 50 m. Narrow pass at right bank, pressing to second "pyramid", downstream pressing to right bank under bushes.
Downstream in the riverbed a lot of big stones and boulders, continuous rapids. The gradient bigger than 10 m/km.

60 km. Rapid "Narrow" (4-). The river compacted by boulders up to 3-4 m. Lenght of the rapid 50 m, the river drops 2-2.5 m. Downstream swift current trough stones. Approx. 500 m downstream rapid "KK" (4-). Lenght of the rapid 350 m. A big gradient, drops, slalom between boulders. Downstream the river relatively calms, shoals-rapids, swift current, in places easy rapids (2, max. 2+).

64 km. Left the tributary Baga-Nariin-Gol. The river becomes easier (2-, max. 2).

70 km. Left the tributary Uliastain-Gol. The river discharge approx 25 m³/s. Gradient increases again. Immediately downstream of the mouth of the tributary short rapid "Last" (up to 3-). A few maneuvers between boulders. Downstream the river outflows the mountains, but gradient still big. Swift current, in places shoals-rapids. (2-, max. 2).

At the tributary Uliastain-Gol	The lower section of the Buyant-Gol	Camp upstream Khovd town.

76 km. The river divides to the branches. Usually about 2/3 of the river flows in one riverbed. Shoals, swift current, small rapids. Gradient decreases a bit, but current still swift (2-). At the banks wide meadows, gers, many animals graze.

85 km. The rocks on the left bank. On opposite side of the river, on right bank, last good place to camp. Gradient decreases. (1/1+).

111 km. Right Khovd town. To take off better at right bank, closer to the bridge. To the edge of the town approx 500 m, to the centre approx. 1 km.

To reach put in point on the river is needed to drive from Olgii town (or Khowd town) via Tolbo village to Delun village. From there to the river approx. 10 unpaved tracks. The distance from Olgii to the river approx. 170 km.