Go Jetters - Series 1: 47. The Gobi Desert, Mongolia (2024)

FAQs

How harsh is the Gobi Desert? ›

These winds may cause the Gobi to reach −40 °C (−40 °F) in winter to 45 °C (113 °F) in summer. However, the climate of the Gobi is one of great extremes, with rapid changes of temperature of as much as 35 °C (63 °F) in 24-hour spans. In southern Mongolia, the temperature has been recorded as low as −32.8 °C (−27.0 °F).

In the marginal dryland, the predominant livelihoods – farming and herding – face an unforgiving natural environment. Extreme winters, drought, storms and dust challenge the lives of people dependent on the land (Figures 2, 3).

Gobi, great desert and semidesert region of Central Asia. The Gobi (from Mongolian gobi, meaning “waterless place”) stretches across huge portions of both Mongolia and China.

Eighty million years ago, during the Cretaceous Period, Mongolia's Gobi Desert was a dinosaur's paradise of vast valleys, freshwater lakes and a humid climate.

The Gobi Desert is considered a cold desert rather than a hot desert, even though it can get quite hot in the summer. The definition of a cold desert is one that experiences severely cold winters, and temperatures in the Gobi Desert routinely get below 0 F°.

The Gobi is not only famous for dinosaur species discovery, but also well known for its rich natural resources. The desert is rich in copper, gold and coal deposits. One of them is called Oyu Tolgoi which is world's third largest copper and gold mine.

Detailed Solution. The correct answer is Mangolia. The Gobi Desert is a large desert or brushland region in East Asia. It covers parts of Northern and Northeastern China and of Southern Mongolia.

Effects of Desertification in the Gobi Desert Region

The effects of desertification are devastating, leading to unproductive soil, causing income loss for those who live there and potential displacement. Its water shortages also impact biodiversity in plants and animals.

NATURE – Mongolia boasts a wide range of birds, fish and mammals but is probably best known for the Siberian Ibex, Snow Leopard, Gobi Bear, Wild Bactrian Camel and Przewalski's Horse. 8. LANDSCAPE – The Land of the Blue Skies has a widely varied topography and the most dramatic landscapes.

Annual precipitation rarely exceeds 400 mm and is typically much lower in the south and central desert and steppe regions. In the Gobi Desert, annual rainfall is only 40 mm. Nationally, an estimated 85% of precipitation falls between April and September.

What is the coldest desert in the world? ›

The coldest desert of the world is Antarctica. Also, it is colder than the other polar desert of the planet, for example, the Arctic.

The Mongolian Gobi Desert is the largest dinosaur fossil reservoir in the world. The region is especially important as regards dinosaur fossils from the later Cretaceous period, which is the last of main three periods of the dinosaur age, representing the final phase of dinosaur evolution.

Its shifting sands conceal ancient cities, 3,000-year-old mummies, dinosaur bones and areas where no man has set foot. It is also the last place on earth where the wild Bactrian camel clings to survival, its fragile habitat threatened by poachers and development.

The Gobi is a rain shadow desert, formed by the Himalayan Mountains, which blocks the rain-causing monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean from reaching the area. Only 5% of the desert is covered by sand, while the rest is covered by sedimentary rocks or dry grasslands.

Physical geography causes of this dry and cold land

Naturally, physical processes acting in the Gobi make it hazardous in terms of water security, wind storms, temperature variations and thus food security.

Environmental Issues in the Gobi Desert

The first, and probably most potent threat would be desertification. Desertification is a process that turn fertile land and soil into desert areas. It is caused by humans cutting down forests, plants or cutting up the prominent rock in the areas.

The main reason that makes this path so different and challenging is its long-distance, desolation, and silence. The arid Gobi Desert climate is also one of the biggest obstacles to completing this path. In general, unlike other places, travelling to the Gobi Desert is a very unique and different journey.

Mongolia Gobi Desert Landscape

There are mountains with lush green valleys, random sand dunes, oases, rivers, lakes, historical sites, vast barren steppes, grassy steppes, and mud cliffs with dinosaur fossils. 40% of Mongolian territory is semi-desert.