The Gobi Desert, located between China and Mongolia, is one of the most fascinating and mysterious regions on the planet.
Although it is known as a desert – well, it is called a desert! – the Gobi is actually much more than a simple expanse of sand: it is a vast and varied land where dunes, mountains, dry grasslands, and life-giving oases alternate.
Thanks to its unique beauty and fascinating geological history, it is an ideal destination for lovers of adventure, nature, and culture.
So here are ten curious facts you probably didn’t know about this wonder of our planet.
Ten surprising facts about the Gobi Desert
1. It’s not sandy at all
Most of the surface of the Gobi Desert is not sandy, but rather made up of bare rock.
The Gobi is in fact a rain-shadow desert, formed by the Himalayan mountain range, which prevents monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean from reaching the area.
Paradoxically, only 5% of the desert is covered by sand, while the rest is covered by sedimentary rock or dry grasslands.
2. The Gobi Desert is the richest part of Mongolia
Over the last decade, the Gobi Desert has made headlines more for its natural resources than for its dinosaur fossils. The desert is in fact rich in copper, gold, and coal.
Since the late 2000s, huge mining deposits have been operating in the Gobi, such as Oyu Tolgoi, the world’s third-largest copper and gold mine, and Tavan Tolgoi, one of the ten largest untapped coal deposits in the world.
Just think that in 2010 the estimated cost to bring the Oyu Tolgoi mine into production was €4.3 billion, making it the largest financial project in the country’s history.
Not surprisingly, the mine accounts for more than 30% of Mongolia’s GDP.
3. It was once a land of dinosaurs
Did you know that the Gobi Desert is the largest dinosaur graveyard in the world?!
At the Flaming Cliffs, the world’s first dinosaur egg nests were found by American researcher Roy Chapman Andrews in 1923. In less than two years, his team uncovered more than 100 dinosaurs and brought them to the American Museum of Natural History, where they are still kept today.
In 100 years of paleontological exploration, more than 80 dinosaur genera have been discovered in the Mongolian Gobi, one fifth of those known to science, including Tarbosaurus bataar – a cousin of Tyrannosaurus rex.
4. Temperatures are extremely harsh
In the winter months, the Gobi Desert can drop to -40°C – yes, you read that right, minus forty! – while in summer the highest temperature reaches 45°C.
During winter, it snows enough to support livestock and wild animals. In fact, the sand dunes are often covered in snow, making it the only desert in the world to offer such striking contrasts.
Read also: Ethical tourism: discover a new way of traveling while respecting cultures and ecosystems
5. The land of the Gobi is… fertile!
But wait… weren’t we talking about a desert?!
Contrary to the typical image we have of deserts, in the Gobi Desert you can see mountains, grasslands, rivers, small lakes, and above all oases, which are essential for wildlife and plants.
Since the 1960s, some oases have been used for cultivation, especially for fruit such as mini apples, peaches, and watermelons. In the Gobi, the growing season lasts from six to seven months, from April to October: twice as long as in the rest of Mongolia.
6. It is expanding dramatically
The Gobi, beyond its current size, could soon become the fourth-largest desert in the world.
In fact, the desert region is rapidly extending southward due to desertification. The process is happening at an alarming rate, overtaking 3,600 square kilometers of grassland every year. Sandstorms have increased in frequency over the last twenty years, causing damage to China’s agricultural economy and reducing the number of livestock owned by Mongolian nomads.
7. 33 deserts make up the desert
The Gobi Desert is not a single expanse of sand, but a combination of thirty-three ‘separate’ deserts, each offering different landscapes and features.
The largest is called ‘Galbiin Gobi’, covering 70,000 square kilometers, and is known for its red earth like Mars and its reddish camels.
8. The Gobi Desert isn’t really that deserted (huh?!)
The Gobi Desert is not entirely uninhabited, although its population is sparse: just one person per square kilometer!
The main source of livelihood for its inhabitants is nomadic livestock herding. The herds, which include camels, horses, sheep, and goats, are small and move regularly. Two-humped Bactrian camels are still used for transport.
9. Once, the Gobi Desert was underwater
Yes, really!
Experts suggest that the Gobi Desert was a seabed in prehistoric times.
Fossilized coral heads, sea lilies, and countless shells have been found in the region.
10. For a desert, it has abundant vegetation
The plants of the Gobi survive against all odds, creating a unique landscape of survival.
In the mountains and valleys there are small shrub-like plants, while in the semi-desert areas the vegetation is richer, with meadows of wild onions, salty marshes with sparse beds of caragana shrubs, and feather-grass steppes.
In the sands grow the saxaul tree, sand wormwood, and regular and annual grasses such as annual Gobi kumarchik and regular timuriya.
The saxaul tree is perhaps the symbolic plant of the Gobi Desert. Similar to a shrub, it has a spongy bark that can be pressed to extract drinking water, making it an important source of water for nomads crossing the desert.
Now the obvious question arises: how is it possible that this tree manages to survive in the desert?!
Studies have shown that saxaul in sandy soil develops roots that are much deeper and larger than its above-ground part, allowing it to absorb more water and survive long periods of drought.
In addition, along the desert drainage lines – where there is more water – a forest of saxaul shrubs develops that helps stop the movement of sand.
Unfortunately, over the last century saxaul forests have shrunk considerably due to global warming and increased human activity. Their disappearance could cause erosion of fragile desert soils, reduced natural management of water reserves, and a faster rate of desertification.
Read also: Everest Base Camp trek preparation: what to know before you go
Conclusions
So, are you ready for a real adventure in the heart of the Gobi Desert, the land of dinosaurs, oases, and mineral deposits?
If the answer is yes, Sto Gran Tour has just what you’re looking for! By traveling with us, you will discover a one-of-a-kind desert, where 95% of the surface is not sandy but made of bare rock, where more than 80 dinosaur genera have been found, where you can admire breathtaking landscapes and experience the nomadic life of the local people.
Rely on the professionalism and experience of Sto Gran Tour, book your trip to the Gobi Desert, and get ready for an unforgettable experience.
