THE GOBI DESERT

Gobi Desert Facts

Located on a plateau that stretches across South East Mongolia and Northern China, the Gobi Desert is the fifth largest desert in the world and the second largest desert in Asia, covering an area of approximately 500,000 square miles. Its location on a plateau high above sea level causes some extreme weather conditions. Winds can reach up to 85 miles per hour, causing temperatures ranging from -40°F in winter to 122°F in summer.

Physical Environment of the Gobi

The terrain of the Gobi desert is as harsh as the climate. The severe winds have removed almost all of the soil and deposited it in North central China leaving behind barren expenses, wind sculpted cliffs, and gravel plains of boulders, rocks, pebbles and dirt. Other areas of the desert include mountains, salt flats and sand dunes. NASA scientists “found evidence suggesting that conditions there may be similar to those in certain regions of Mars.” (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2007/07_14AR.html)

While there aren’t many sand dunes in the Gobi, the few there are incredible. The Badain Jaran region has some of the deserts largest, with dunes exceeding 1,300 feet in height. The Uush dunes, lying in the northern part of Buyant Bag, are known by the locals for their healing sands, and the Khongoryn Els dunes in Sevrei sum, are called Duut Mankhan or “singing dunes,” because on windy days they make a sound like a plane engine.

Gobi Desert Animals

Gobi desert animals include, Jerboas, Golden eagles, snow leopards, Asiatic wild asses, Takhis, Meus, Asiatic Ibex, the Gobi wolf, and lizards. Two animals of special note are the Bacterian, a two-humped camel, and the Gobi bear. Bactrian camels are a domesticated animal important for their wool and their use by herders as a means of transportation across the desert. This amazing animal can travel for 30 days without drinking any water.

The Gobi bear is one of our world’s most endangered species. This brown bear is unique in that it is the only bear to have adapted to the harsh desert environment. There are an estimated 25 to 40 wild Gobi bears left. Their low numbers are due to competition for limited resources and the encroachment into their habitat by semi-nomadic herders and their livestock.

Gobi Desert People

The two main populations found in the Gobi are Mongolians and Han Chinese, most of whom are nomadic herders. Their traditional home is a tent like structure called the ger or yurt. These circular dwellings are built to be dismantled with latticed wooden frames held together with ropes and a felt covering made from wool.

Milk is a major part of the native diet due to water being such a scare resource. Taken from goats, sheep, yaks, camels and horses, milk is consumed in all its forms; hot, cold, dried, curdled, and churned. It can be processed into cheeses, creams, and yogurt, or fermented into alcoholic beverages. Another popular dish is bortzig, a fried unleavened bread.

The people of the Gobi desert are known for their hospitality, a traditional Mongolian proverb says “Happy is the one who has guests, merry is the home boasting a tethering rail full of visitor’s horses”.

Gobi Desert Plants

The Gobi desert has five distinct eco-regions, namely, the Eastern Gobi desert steppe, the Alashan Plateau semi-desert, the Gobi Lakes Valley desert steppe, the Junggar Basin semi-desert and the Tian Shan range, each with its own plant life.

One of the most important plants in the Gobi desert is the saxaul tree, which can be found in all five eco-regions. These small trees have tiny leaves and thick, coarse bark which can be harvested and pressed to produce drinking water. The trees are also a source of firewood, and have a parasite which grows on their roots which is used for medicinal proposes.

Other plants across the Gobi desert include; the convolvulus, a colorful morning glory bush, a wild onion called Taana, tamarix plants which are a type of shrub, an herb called ephedra, several species of grasses, and saltwort, a weed which is tolerant of salty conditions.