The Gobi Desert Facts: Top 5 Only Nomads Know in Mongolia

What’s so famous about Gobi?

The Gobi Desert Facts: The Mongolian Gobi Desert is a vast desert that is often misunderstood. Many people think it’s a lifeless desert but in reality it’s:

Vast Steppes, sand and mountains
World’s largest dinosaur fossil reservoir
Two humped camels
Rarest animals in the world
Rarest plant on ground
Wealth of copper, gold and coal
Rich in wildlife

1. World’s Largest Desert Gobi

Gobi Desert is the fifth largest desert region in central Asia. It covers parts of northern China, northwestern China, and southern Mongolia. Gobi Desert Landscapes is about 1,295,000 square kilometers (500,000 sq mi) in size.

The Gobi Desert Facts: Top 5 Only Nomads Know in Mongolia

Gobi desert is lying between the Altai mountains, Mongolian steppes, and Tibetan Plateau, bordered by significant mountain ranges such as the Altai, Hangayn, and Da Hinggan. China’s Xinjiang province (Inner Mongolia) is near it too.

Gobi desert area was an important zone in the Great Mongol Empire and many cities along the Ancient Silk Road are situated there. It’s believed that Gobi desert was created because the Tibetan Plateau (Himalayas) blocks the rain clouds that comes to this region, resulting less rainfall.

Mongolian Gobi

Mongolian Gobi is the second largest desert in Asia and the 5th biggest single desert in the world. Mongolian Gobi is part of the Gobi, one of the driest deserts in the world.

Mongolian Gobi has 33 different regions, where the sandy desert makes up only 3-5% of the total area. Mongolian Gobi desert is made up of low mountains lying between Dund-Gobi, Umnugobi, Khovd, Gobi-Altai Mountains and Bayan-khongor.

Nature resource in Gobi:

Sharga
Zag Us /Dund-Gobi Province/
Zuunmod /Umnugobi province/

Large sanctuary gobi desert: /Khovd, Gobi-Altai, Bayan-Khongor/ province

№	Gobi-Altai	Bayan-Khongor	Khovd
1	Nomin	Nomin	*
2	*	Blue	*
3	Sharga	*
4	Khalzan Sondogo	*	*
5	Ingen Khuuvur	Ingen Khuuvur	*
6	Altan Uvur	Altan Uvur	*
7	Zuun Gar	*	Zuun Gar
8	*	*	Bortsonj
9	*	*	Davsan Huurai

Little sanctuary gobi desert: /all in Umnu-Gobi Province/

Galba
Sagjuu
Borzong
Zeemeg

Other Gobi desert region: /by province/

№	Gobi-Altai	Dund-gobi	Dorno-Gobi
1	Zahui	Tugrug /Khuis/	Oosh
2	Zarman	Gashuun	Dolood
3	Khonin-Us	Bureg	Nomgon
4	Khuis	Khuurain Nomgon	Bayan
5	Tsagaan Huuvur	Khukhulzukh	Hashaat
6	*	*	Sukhain huuvur

2. World’s largest dinosaur fossil reservoir

The Mongolian desert is home to a wide range of plant and animal life, different climate zones and topography. Especially in the Nemegt mountain range, which is located in the Umnu-Gobi province in Mongolia, is famous for finding rare fossils of ancient native lizards.

Roy Chapman Andrews who is known as Indiana Jones, found the first dinosaur egg in the Mongolian Desert in 1923. The first discovery that dinosaurs laid eggs came from a complete nest found in the Flaming Cliffs

Since then many more have been found, making it the largest dinosaur fossils reservoir in the world. The Gobi Desert is a great place to find dinosaur fossils because the conditions are ideal for fossilization.

The Gobi Desert is very dry and has little vegetation. This means that there is not much erosion which can destroy fossils. The Gobi Desert is also very windy. This can help to preserve fossils by blowing away sand and dirt that would otherwise cover them.

Some of the most famous dinosaurs hat have been found in the Gobi Desert are:

Tyrannosaurus Rex
Velociraptor
Oviraptor
Protoceratops
Pteranodon

The Gobi desert is a perfect place to find dinosaurs because it is rich in fossilized bones of these animals.

3. Gobi desert animals

The Gobi desert is also home to some of the rarest animals in the world, including the snow leopards, the gobi bear Mazaalai, the argali (a type of wild sheep), Golden eagles, goitered gazelle, khulan, dzeren, Przewalski’s horse and two humped camels. Other interesting animals are marmot, reptiles and gophers. The Eastern Gobi Desert Steppe is another region where these unique species can be found.

Wild Bactrian Camel

The Bactrian camels are mammals of the family Camelidae that is native to the steppes of Central Asia. The Bactrian camel has two humps on its back, in contrast to the single-humped dromedary camel. The Bactrian camel is well adapted to life in the harsh climate conditions of the Semi-Desert region.

The Bactrian camel can go for long periods without drinking water. This is because the camel can store water in its hump, which is then used to keep the camel hydrated during times of drought.

The wild camels are also able to withstand freezing temperatures. This is because the camel has a thick coat of fur that helps to keep it warm in the coldest desert conditions.

The camel is a popular means of transportation of people and goods. The camel is also used as a source of milk, which is an important source of nutrition for people living in the desert.

4. Gobi Desert plants

Many rare plants grow in the Gobi, semi-desert, including the saxaul tree, which is the rarest plant on the ground. The Gobi is also home to many types of cacti and other desert plants. The Ala Shan Desert, another significant desert region, also hosts unique flora.

Vegetation in semi-desert regions is thicker, with wild onions herb meadows, salt marshes with sparse Caragana plantings, wild garlic, and feather-grass steppes.

The Gobi, semi-desert is a fascinating place with a rich history and diverse wildlife. It is an important part of the world’s ecosystem and should be protected.

5. What is the climate like in the Gobi Desert?

The Gobi desert is located on a plateau that is 910-1,520 meters above sea level. This contributes to the desert’s low temperatures. The Gobi Desert has continental climate. This means long, cold winters and hot summers.

The desert is very dry, with little rainfall. The mountains surrounding the Gobi can get up to 2 feet of snow per year. The Gobi Desert is cold in winter, with frost and snow on its dunes.

Is Gobi desert hot or cold?

Average temperatures:

-30°C (-22°F) in January – Cold desert in winter
26°C (79°F) in July – Up to 50°C in Summer

Gobi desert temperature at night

-2°C (-28°F) in January
17°C (62°F) in July

But it can get much hotter in summer, up to 50°C (122°F). Gobi is also one of the windiest places on Earth. Winds can reach up to 112 km/h (70 mph).

Best time to travel to Gobi is spring or autumn when the weather is cooler. Especially September and October is a very good time to visit.

6. Gobi desert is not just a sand desert

Mongolian territory makes up about 40% of the semi-desert. Mongolian Gobi is not just a sand desert. Gobi has many different landscapes, including mountains rolling hills, steppes and forests. Also popular as sand dunes which is located in Umnu-Gobi province.

”Khongor els” the biggest sand dunes

Mongolian nomads call it ”Khongor els” which are the biggest sand dunes in the Gobi desert. The dune is 180% high mountains five km long and 15 km wide. It is also one of the highest dunes in the world, with some dunes reaching 195 meters high.

1200px Khongoryn Els sand dunes — Khongor dune

On windy days it sounds like the sand dunes are singing. The sound is caused by the sand grains rubbing against each other. The singing sands of the Gobi desert is a popular tourist attraction.

Bare rock mountains

Gobi is not just sand it also has bare rock too. In some parts of the Gobi desert, the wind has eroded the rock into strange shapes. These yardang mountains are amazing.

Flaming Cliffs

The ‘Flaming Cliffs‘ are another iconic feature of the Gobi desert. The cliffs are made of red sandstone that has been eroded by the wind over time.

The cliffs get their name from the way they look when the sun sets and the cliffs turn red. The miles and miles of the Gobi are as beautiful as they are strange.

7. Mongolian desert is rich

Gobi desert has copper, gold, uranium and other minerals. Oyu-Tolgoi mine is one of the biggest copper mine in the world. It is located in Gobi desert in Mongolia.

Oyu-Tolgoi mine has over 30 million tons of copper and 1,200 tons of gold. It is operated by the joint venture of Mongolian government and mining company Rio Tinto.

8. Gobi desert is expanding every year

Gobi desert is growing faster and faster. Every year it expands 0.4%. It may not seem much but it adds up over time.

The main reason is climate change. As the Earth gets warmer, the rain that used to fall in the Gobi desert is now falling elsewhere. So the desert is getting drier and bigger.

Another big problem is the groundwater table. In some very northern and northwestern parts, of the Gobi, the groundwater table is only a few meters below the surface. As the desert expands and the groundwater is used up, the land will become too dry to support life.

Gobi desert expansion is a big problem for the people who live in the region. The desert is home to many rare and endangered wild animals, including Mongolian gerbil and Bactrian camel. The desert is also a grazing ground for the nomadic herders who live in the region.

As the desert expands, it is putting the wildlife and the livelihoods of the people who live there at risk.

Mongolian gobi desert facts only Mongolians know

Fact 1 Crying Camel

Mongolian Bactrain Camel can feel Morin Khuur sound like a person. Mongolian herders use it on an orphaned calf.

When newly born calf lost her mother, it is hard to find them a new mother camel. During that time, the sound of Morin khuur helps her find her new stepmother. When the chosen mother camel hears the melody of Morin khuur, she will be emotionally swayed to love the orphaned calf.

Fact 2 Don’t go to Ger, If it is alone

Mongolian herders believe that you can not visit a single ger if it is alone. The herder’s family generally stays in the collective group. So if they see a single ger, it means that someone from that family died. Or it could be a gobi desert witch.

In the legend of the Mongolian Gobi desert, if you go through the old and single ger, there is a woman who actually acts like a mother or an old woman. Be careful, she could give you a cup of tea cold. But it is just boiled from a pot.

Fact 3 It was Ocean

In ancient times, the Gobi desert was an ocean. It is claimed that a variety of flora and fauna may be found in the Gobi desert, as well as ancient ruins, trees and animals. However, today it has become a desert.

Fact 4 Oasis in Gobi

Gobi desert is not entirely dry, as there are several oases. Oasis is a geographic location in a desert where water and vegetation exist. Oases are like islands in the sand dunes. They are a place to stop and relax while traveling across the Gobi Desert.

Fact 5 Mazaalai

Gobi bear is a species of bear that lives in the Gobi desert. It is a rare species called Mazaalai. There are only about 20 Gobi bears left in the world and they can only be found in the Mongolian western gobi desert.

Bonus Fact: Gobi desert illusion

It looks different than it is. Gobi desert is full of optical illusions. One optical illusion in the Gobi desert is called the “moving rocks”. These are rocks that look like they are moving but they are not.

Another optical illusion in the Gobi desert is called the “Oasis”. This Oasis looks nearly 2 km but it is actually only 700 m.

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FAQ about Gobi desert

Does anyone live in the Gobi Desert?

Yes, there are people who live in the Gobi Desert. They are mostly nomadic herders who move around with their animals to find pasture and water. Some of the tribes that live in the Gobi desert include the Kazakhs, Mongols and Tuvinians.

Who owns the Gobi Desert?

Gobi Desert is shared by China and Mongolia. Most of the desert is in China, with a small part in the southern tip of Mongolia.

What is the economy of the Gobi Desert like?

Economy of the Gobi Desert is based on herding and agriculture. Nomadic herders of Gobi raise camels, sheep, goats and yaks. They also grow wheat, barley and vegetables. Some people in Gobi mine for coal and copper.

What does the word Gobi mean?

Word “Gobi” means desert in Mongolian. Mongolians call it just Gobi but call Gobi desert by foreigners.

Does the Gobi Desert get rain?

Gobi Desert is very dry place with very little rainfall. Mountains surrounding the desert can get up to 2 feet of snow each year, but the desert itself usually get few inches of rain. It usually starts in July.

Where is the Gobi Desert located?

Gobi desert steppe, which lies in China’s Inner Mongolia region and the Yin Mountains is first. It is bounded by Mongolian Manchurian grassland, Yellow River and Alashan plateau.

Second, Alashan Plateau semi-desert is made up of basin semi-desert and low range between Gobi Altai range, Helan mountains, Qilian mountains and Tibetan Plateau.
Third, Gobi Desert Steppe runs north of Alashan plateau and west of Gobi Altai province.

Traveler / Writer / Founder

Bayanbat.A

A.Bayanbat is the founder and CEO of Webhiine.com, top digital marketing agency in Mongolia. He has rich experience in marketing management, especially at Nomin Holding, he has expertise in online presence, digital strategy and social media marketing. He studied at Hallym University and Inha University, got international experience and holds a degree in Trade Management from National University of Mongolia. Through Correctmongolia, Bayanbat shares his deep knowledge of Mongolian culture, traditions and modern developments to help people around the world connect and appreciate Mongolia’s unique heritage. Bayanbat’s professional experience and passion for promoting Mongolia makes him a trusted authority in digital marketing and cultural exploration.

I’ll also share some photos of the beautiful Mongolian landscape. So if you’re ready, let’s explore Mongolia! If you interested in traveling Mongolia i am here for you.