Unlike the Mojave Desert of the Western United States, where midsummer temps can reach 130+, the Gobi is known as a cold desert. Temperature here rarely surpass 90 degrees. The night and winter are a completely different story and drop well below zero. There is both frost and snow here along with the bitter cold. In the winter it can reach -40 degrees. Brrrrrr...
The Gobi is 1000 miles long by 500 miles wide and spans across both China and Mongolia.
There is a vast array of wildlife here...which we will get to in a while.
The desert is composed not only of the golden sand dunes...but also flat scrub areas, grasslands.. the occasional oasis, and hard-packed yellow clay.
It is surrounded by mountains.
The area is a fossil treasure...and the first dinosaur eggs were found here.
Through desertification...China is losing over 1,300 miles each year. The Chinese have started a tree planting project along the Southern edge they have come to call The Great Green Wall to hopefully slow the erosion. This project is expanded until at least 2050.
Similar projects have sprung up through many countries, now.
Tour through the Gobi
https://youtu.be/FaUgL2HrFlY
From the Air
https://youtu.be/ErZoyfrEuBk
And such a wide diversity of wildlife calls this inhospitable place home.
Wild Bactrian
Camels
Snow Leopards
Fennec Foxes
...aren't these the cutest things you have ever seen???
Przewalski's Horses
Wild Asses
Gobi Bears
Musk Oxen
Ibex
and this little guy...
The Jerboa.
Just look at those ears!!!
"The better to hear you with, my dear."
The best way to see everything...is on the back of a camel...of course.
And there are many treks available.
Gobi Desert Camel Trek
https://youtu.be/gqHHepngVG4
I hope you've enjoyed today's virtual adventure.
Next time we will try Inner Mongolian Cuisine!
You have to love that night sky.
