Kherlen

The Kherlen rises in the Khentii Mountains and flows east across the Mongolian steppe towards Lake Hulun. Together with the Onon, it formed part of the early homeland of the Mongols, and the site of Avarga near its upper reaches is associated with Chinggis Khan. In 1409 a Ming expedition under Qiu Fu pursued the Eastern Mongols to the Kherlen. The Mongol forces under Bunyashiri and Arughtai defeated the expedition, killing Qiu Fu and other commanders. The battle was followed by further campaigns under the Yongle Emperor. Across these centuries the river remained a prominent landmark in the vast grasslands between the Khentii and the eastern lakes.