Southeast Mongolia’s Deserts
Southeast Mongolia is a region well-known for its unique landscapes and harsh weather conditions. The region is dominated by two vast deserts, the Gobi Desert and the Badain Jaran Desert, that cover large portions of the area. Both deserts have distinct features and characteristics that make them fascinating to explore and study. In this article, we will explore these two deserts in detail and discover which one dominates the southeast portion of Mongolia.
Geographical location of Southeast Mongolia
Southeast Mongolia is located in the central part of Asia and is bordered by China to the south and Russia to the north. The region covers an area of approximately 200,000 square kilometers and is characterized by vast steppes, mountains, and deserts. The southeast portion of Mongolia is predominantly arid and semi-arid, with an average annual temperature ranging from -20°C in the winter to 30°C in the summer.
The two major deserts in Southeast Mongolia
The Gobi Desert and the Badain Jaran Desert are the two major deserts that dominate the southeast portion of Mongolia. The Gobi Desert is the larger and more famous of the two, covering an area of approximately 500,000 square miles and extending from northern China to southern Mongolia. On the other hand, the Badain Jaran Desert is relatively small, covering an area of approximately 49,000 square kilometers and located in the western part of Inner Mongolia.
The Gobi Desert: Features and Characteristics
The Gobi Desert is known for its vast expanses of sand dunes, rocky outcrops, and barren landscapes. It is the fifth-largest desert in the world and is characterized by extreme temperatures, with hot summers and cold winters. The desert is home to many unique geological formations, including the Flaming Cliffs, where some of the world’s first dinosaur fossils were discovered. The Gobi Desert is also famous for its Silk Road trade routes, which were used by traders for centuries to transport goods between China and Europe.
The Gobi Desert: Flora and Fauna
The Gobi Desert is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, including camels, gazelles, wild horses, and snow leopards. The desert is also home to many endemic species, such as the Gobi bear, which is one of the rarest bears in the world. Plant life in the Gobi Desert is sparse, with only a few species of hardy shrubs and grasses able to survive the extreme conditions.
The Gobi Desert: Climate and Weather
The Gobi Desert has a harsh and unforgiving climate, with extreme temperatures and very little rainfall. The average temperature in the summer months is around 40°C, while in the winter months, temperatures can drop to as low as -40°C. The desert receives less than 100 millimeters of rainfall annually, making it one of the driest places on earth.
The Gobi Desert: Human presence and Lifestyle
The Gobi Desert is sparsely populated, with small nomadic communities scattered throughout the region. These communities traditionally rely on livestock herding and subsistence farming for their livelihoods. In recent years, there has been an increase in mining and oil exploration activities in the Gobi Desert, which has led to concerns about the impact of these activities on the fragile desert ecosystem.
The Badain Jaran Desert: Features and Characteristics
The Badain Jaran Desert is known for its towering sand dunes, some of which reach heights of up to 500 meters. The desert is located in the western part of Inner Mongolia and is home to many unique geological formations, including the Singing Sand Dunes, which produce a haunting sound when the wind blows. The Badain Jaran Desert is also home to many ancient ruins and artifacts, including the ruins of the Xixia Kingdom, which date back to the 11th century.
The Badain Jaran Desert: Flora and Fauna
The Badain Jaran Desert is sparsely populated, with very few plant and animal species able to survive in the extreme conditions. The desert is home to a few species of hardy shrubs and grasses, as well as a variety of small mammals, such as rodents and foxes. The most notable animal species found in the Badain Jaran Desert is the Bactrian camel, which is well-adapted to surviving in the harsh desert environment.
The Badain Jaran Desert: Climate and Weather
The Badain Jaran Desert has a similar climate to the Gobi Desert, with extreme temperatures and very little rainfall. The average temperature in the summer months is around 35°C, while in the winter months, temperatures can drop to as low as -20°C. The desert receives less than 100 millimeters of rainfall annually, making it one of the driest places on earth.
How do the two deserts compare?
While both the Gobi Desert and the Badain Jaran Desert are arid and semi-arid regions, they have different features and characteristics that make them unique. The Gobi Desert is larger and more famous, with vast expanses of sand dunes and rocky outcrops. The Badain Jaran Desert, on the other hand, is known for its towering sand dunes and ancient ruins. Both deserts have extreme weather conditions and very little rainfall, making it difficult for plant and animal life to survive.
Conclusion: The dominant desert in Southeast Mongolia
In conclusion, while both the Gobi Desert and the Badain Jaran Desert are important deserts in southeast Mongolia, the Gobi Desert dominates the region both in terms of size and notoriety. The Gobi Desert is a vast and unforgiving landscape, home to many unique geological formations, plant and animal species, and ancient ruins. Despite its harsh conditions, the Gobi Desert remains a fascinating and important region, both for its historical significance and its ecological value.
