Southern Mongolia's most dominant feature is the Gobi Desert, half a million square miles of wilderness containing some of the Earth's most diverse and beautiful landscapes. The sand dunes and vast blue sky of legend are found here, as are valleys where grass grows beside ice formations that sparkle until mid-summer, and canyons and cliffs that glow orange in the evening light. Shaggy two-humped camels, Gobi bears, ibex, and gazelle are just some of the wildlife sharing this remarkable land with nomadic families living in round white gers, the traditional felt and canvas dwellings of Mongolia's herdsmen. Meeting these desert nomads, known for their friendliness and hospitality, is a highlight of any visit to the Gobi.
In addition to the warmth of its people, the Gobi's ancient treasures continue to draw adventurers to Mongolia's southern provinces. Among the desert's most famous and dramatic sights is the Flaming Cliffs, where dinosaur hunters made one of the 20th century's most important discoveries. The glow of these red sandstone cliffs was a dramatic backdrop for the unearthing of dinosaur eggs in 1923, an event that established the Gobi as one of paleontology's most important research destinations.
Another not-to-be-missed corner of this vast desert is Hongoryn Els, a 60-mile stretch of dunes nearly 200 meters high, dubbed the "Singing Sands" for the eerie groan of the wind through the towering drifts.
Yol Valley National Park, yet another natural treasure of the south, is a deep desert valley named for the bone-eating Bearded Vulture, where frozen streams melt slowly in the desert sun.
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