TheArgun/ɑːrˈɡuːn/ orErgune (Chinese:额尔古纳河) is a 1,620-kilometre (1,010 mi) long river that forms part of the easternChina–Russia border, together with theAmur. Its upper reaches are known as theHailar River (海拉尔河) inChina. The Argun marks the border (established by theTreaty of Nerchinsk in 1689) between Russia and China for about 944 kilometres (587 mi), until it meets the Amur.
The river flows from the Western slope of theGreater Xing'an Range in China'sInner Mongolia, and forms the Chinese side of the two rivers that flow together to produce the Amur (Heilong). Itsconfluence with theShilka atUst-Strelka on the Russian side forms the Amur. The Argun is 1,620 kilometres (1,010 mi) long including its upper course Hailar, and has adrainage basin of 164,000 square kilometres (63,000 sq mi).[2] Its main tributaries are theUrov,Uryumkan andGazimur from the left, and theGen He from the right.[2]
In years with high precipitation, the normally exitlessHulun Lake may overflow at its northern shore, and the water will meet the Argun after about 30 kilometres (19 mi). TheKherlen–Argun–Amur system has a total length of 5,052 kilometres (3,139 mi).
InThe Secret History of the Mongols is a legend related to theErgüne hun Mongol ancestry. In this legend, the Mongols prevailed over other tribes and carried such slaughter among them, that in living remained no more than two men and two women. These two families, in fear of the enemy, fled to the inhospitable terrain, which included only mountains and forests and to which there was no road. Among those mountains was the abundant grass and healthy climate of the steppe. Then, legend tells that in Ergune-Khun, Mongols multiplied and become masters of iron smelting and blacksmithing. According to legend, it is the art of melting iron that has helped them escape from the mountain gorges on scope of the current Mongolian steppes, to theKherlen (Kelulun) andOnon River.
