Although the valley is a semi-arid desert steppe, it has areas of wetlands near the lakes that are important habit for water birds.

[2] The region is desert steppe, with rivers from the Khangai Mountains on the north providing most of the water to the lakes.

[2] Dominant plants of the desert steppe include feather grass (Stipa gobica), wild onion (Allium polyrhizum), anabasis, and ajania.

[1] Water birds in the wetlands include the great cormorant, greylag goose, ruddy shelduck, mallard and Eurasian coot.

[2] Small mammals throughout the region include the midday jird, Gobi jerboa (a rodent of temperate grasslands and deserts), winter white dwarf hamster, and long-eared hedgehog (Erinaceus).