Paysage culturel de la vallée de l’Orkhon

Photo : Jonashtand (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Located in Mongolia, this cultural landscape encompasses the Orkhon Valley and its surrounding areas, representing a significant territory shaped by centuries of human occupation and land use. The site demonstrates the interaction between pastoral nomadic societies and their natural environment across different historical periods, from the Hunnic Empire through the Mongol era to modern times. The valley contains archaeological remains including ancient capitals, burial sites, and monumental inscriptions that document the region's historical importance as a center of power and cultural development. The landscape is characterized by open steppes interspersed with river valleys, forests, and montane terrain, which have sustained both nomadic and settled populations. The site's mixed designation reflects the combination of natural geographical features and cultural heritage embedded within the valley system. The Orkhon Valley represents a living cultural landscape where traditional pastoral practices continue to be integrated with archaeological and historical evidence of successive civilizations.