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The Badain Jaran Desert covers an area of 49,000 square kilometers in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and other parts of China.
The Badain Jaran Desert has an extremely hot and dry climate, with an average annual rainfall of about 50-60 mm. Most of the rainwater evaporates before reaching the ground. Despite this, the Badain Jaran Desert surprisingly has nearly 140 lakes nestled among its sand dunes.
These lakes give the desert its Mongolian name, which means "mysterious lakes."
The water source for these mysterious lakes is believed to come from underground springs flowing beneath layers of gravel geology and emerging between sand dunes.
The streams are fed by rainwater and melting snow from the mountain ranges surrounding the desert.
Although the streams carry fresh water, most lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert contain salt. This can be explained by the rapid evaporation of water.
Some lakes change color due to the presence of algae, brine shrimp, and minerals. Evaporation also causes a layer of salt to form around some lakes.
Freshwater lakes provide a stable water source for nomadic peoples and their livestock in the desert. Many lakes are surrounded by green belts and are inhabited.
A satellite image shows a section of the Badain Jaran desert with numerous lakes scattered throughout.
