GOBI DESERT IN MONGOLIA

Gobi desert in Mongolia

Travel to the Gobi desert

It’s been many years since the Gobi desert in Mongolia became one of the top touristic destinations in the world. Its iconic nature formations, dinosaur fossils, wildlife, and animals are always making admires people who visit. Especially in Mongolia, different lifestyle makes this outdoor adventure in the Gobi desert unforgettable. Gobi desert features with its two-humped camels and sand dunes.

The location of the Gobi desert is south of Mongolia to the north of China. Gobi desert is covering 1.29 million square km. The Gobi has one of the world’s most extreme climates, both seasonally and daily. Summer months bring temperatures of up to +50 C whilst in the winter months, temperatures can drop to below -40 C. The elevations of the Gobi’s basin range from roughly 288-1524m above sea level.

Top places to visit in Gobi desert

Flaming cliff is one of the highlights of the Gobi desert. If you are planning a trip to Gobi desert you must visit Flaming Cliff. Flaming cliff is just it’s a famous name. Locally known as Baynzag “rich in saxaul shrubs”, named for the tree-like shrubs. Like Joshua trees of Mongolia. It named as a flaming cliff by paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews, who arrived in 1922 to excavate the area. The beauty of the surrounding landscape is a good reason to visit.

Flaming cliff - Gogi desert — Flaming cliff – Gogi desert

Gurvan Saikhan national park is understandably one of the Mongolian most popular national parks with its iconic sand dunes, ice canyon, and stunning mountain vistas. It’s been home for over 600 types of plants and over 200 types of birds such as desert warbler, desert finch, cinereous vulture, houbara bustard. The park supports the world’s rear animals such as black-tailed gazelles, wild camels, snow leopard, Ibexes, and Argali sheep. The most visited area of the national park is ice canyon “Yoliin am” Yol valley.

“Khongoriin else” sand dunes. These are really impressive sand dunes reaching a height of 800 meters, 20 km wide and about 100 km long, of course they are always moving and changing. They are also known as the “singing dunes” as when it is windy the grains of sand rub each other making a unique sound. You can hike up to enjoy a fantastic view of peaceful nature.

Interesting facts about the Gobi desert:

One of the first discovered dinosaur fossils was in the Gobi desert.
Gobi desert is still growing, and the Chinese side meeting it by planting trees on its way.
Gobi desert is the largest desert in Asia. But it is 5th largest in the world.
The name “Gobi” translates as “waterless”.
Only 5% of the desert covered with sand dunes.
This is the only desert in the world with 4 seasons and with contrasting features.