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| Tuul Gol (Туул гол) | |
| Tuul River, Tola River | |
| River | |
 The Tuul flowing through the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
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| Country | Mongolia |
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| Aimags | Khentii, Töv, Selenge |
| City | Ulan Bator |
| Source | |
| - location | Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Khentii Mountains |
| Mouth | Orkhon River |
| Length | 704 km (437 mi) |
| Basin | 49,840 km² (19,243 sq mi) |
Tuul River (Mongolian: Туул гол, tuul gol; in older sources also Tola) is a river in central and northern Mongolia. It is 704 km long and drains an area of 49,840 square km.
Originating in Gorkhi-Terelj National Park in the Khentii Mountains, this body of water runs through the southern part of the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator. It is a tributary of the Orkhon River, which flows into the Selenge River, which flows into Russia and Lake Baikal. The Tuul River also flows along the Khustain Nuruu National Park. It is typically frozen over from the middle of November through the middle of April. Willow forests grow along the Tuul River, and the river itself is home to endangered species of sturgeon.
Currently the river is suffering from pollution, some caused by Ulan Bator's central sewage treatment facility, as well as heavy mineral and sedimentation pollution caused by gold mining in the Zaamar area. In addition, the steady influx of people settling near the river may be causing a degradation of water quality.
External links
- UNESCO paper on water usage in Mongolia, including information on the Tuul River
- Scientific analysis of Tuul River flows (PDF format)
- Report on effects of gold mining on the Tuul River
- Investors' report on gold deposits in the Tuul River basin
- Photo album of the Tuul River
- Report on environmental problems in Hustai National Park and the Tuul River valley
