Mongolia Road Trip 4 / Baga Gazariin Chuluu (in Dund Gobi Province) Cool Rock Formations / Walk 106
Support me on Ko-fi!
Baga Gazriin Chuluu – located in Delgertsogt sum, Dundgovi province and surrounded by plain. The highest one is 15 km long and 10 km wide granite stone-mountain elevated at 1768m above sea level. There are also over 20 kinds of medical herbs like burnet, many kinds of world rare animals like marmot, ibex and mountain sheep. Also you can see Bolort Cave, eye treatment spa, rock images, petroglyphs, burial mounds many other sightseeing. There is a ruin of Choir monastery which was established by “Zava” Damdin, a famous ancient historical, religious and scientific researcher. This monastery had a monastery with few monks translate, print, explain and advertise books from Tibetan languages and research religious philosophy and medical science.
The astonishing granitic formations of Baga Gazariin Chuluu, ”stone of the little place”, are located in the northwest of the province of Dundgovi, in the heart of the steppe, 250 km (155,34 miles) towards south of Ulaanbaatar, in the sum of Delgertsogt. At a height of 1751 metres (1,09 mile), they form a granite canyon erected in the heart of the steppe. The erosion polished the rock faces of the cliffs. Some of the lateral entries of the canyon are not very accessible, but most of them permit to enter and to make wonderful hikes in this rocky maze. You may manage to see on the rock the inscriptions written by two venerated monks who lived there in the 19th century.
We can visit on the site the ruins of an old temple dating from the 17th century. We can see there a deep narrow hole. The stagnating rainwater could treat the ocular illnesses. A little ladle has been put on the rock for the people to wash their eyes with the sacred water.
#AmbientWalking #Walk #Walking #Walks #DJIOsmoPocket #Mongolia #ArchivingMongolia #WalkingMongolia #WalkMongolia #Asia #Travel #Sightseeing
Mongolia Road Trip 18 / Singing Dunes, Khongoryn Els, Duut Mankhan (An Exhausting Hike) / Walk 118
Support me on Ko-fi!
From :
Khongoryn Els also called Duut Mankhan is popularly known as the Singing Sands. It lies within the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park in Mongolia. The sand dunes extend to over 965 square kilometres (373 sq mi) area.
The dunes extending up to the foot of the high Altai Mountains range, lie about 180 kilometres (110 mi) from Dalanzadgad. It is at a distance of 130 kilometres (81 mi) along the desert tracks to Bogd in Övörkhangai in the north, and 215 kilometres (134 mi) to Bayanlig on the northwest in Bayankhongor. Travel through the desert is by jeeps.
Mongolia has three types of deserts, and some of it has enough grass for livestock to graze, but the Khongoryn Els, in the extreme south of the Gobi Desert, has a huge range of sand dunes – 6–12 kilometres (3.7–7.5 mi) wide, 100 kilometres (62 mi) long (180 kilometres (110 mi) is also mentioned) and rising to a height of 80 metres (260 ft) (a maximum height to the apex can be 300 metres (980 ft)). They are similar to the dunes of Egypt. The sands have attractive curves which end in a sharp edge, making wave like patterns on the sand. They continually change shape due to wind and reflect yellow-white colours as the intensity of light changes during the day.
As the sand is moved due to winds or is in the process of collapse due to small avalanches, a strong sound is made giving it the name Singing Sands. A French team has explained this phenomenon as due to a thin surface coating of slate over the sand grains which causes the sand to make a resonant sound. The sound is also attributed to heat, the weather conditions in the desert and to the avalanche effect caused by the sand particles moving harmoniously. This sound is also compared to the sound made by an aircraft during take-off and landing stages. Its length and width vary. The largest of these dunes is found in the northwestern end of the range.
The northern border of the dunes is skirted by a small river, the Khonggoryn Gol, where green pastures are noted. The river is sourced by subterranean flows from the mountains forming its valley. Grazing by camels and horses of the nomadic population of the area is noted. The wildlife recorded consist of Saker falcons, Pallas's sandgrouse and Saxaul sparrow, Corsac fox or red fox.
From :
Khongoryn Els are some of the largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. Also known as the Duut Mankhan (Singing Dunes – from the sound they make when the sand is moved by the wind), they are up to 300m high, 12km wide and about 100km long. The largest dunes are at the northwestern corner of the range. From afar the dunes look painted on the south horizon in front of those gorgeous granite mountains.
Up close you get more texture as the sand forms peaks that look like whipped meringue. Getting to the top (45 minutes to one hour) is exhausting; every step forward is followed by a significant backslide, and as you approach you may be sandblasted as the wind shears the lip off the dune and showers you with stinging sand, but the views of the desert from the sandy summit are wonderful. The dunes are also a popular place for organising camel treks (per hour/day T10,000/30,000, plus the same again for the guide fee). Most local herders can arrange treks. You'll have to walk the dunes yourself, but the camel can carry your gear. A two- or three-day walk through the dunes would likely be the highlight of your trip and its greatest challenge. A mini naadam featuring horse racing and wrestling is held here in August.
The dunes are about 180km from Dalanzadgad. There is no way to get here unless you charter a vehicle or are part of a tour.
From Khongoryn Els it is possible to follow desert tracks 130km north to Bogd in Övörkhangai, or 215km northwest to Bayanlig in Bayankhongor. This is a remote and unforgiving area and you shouldn’t undertake either trip without an experienced driver and full stocks of food, water and fuel.
#AmbientWalking #Walk #Walking #Walks #DJIOsmoPocket #Mongolia #ArchivingMongolia #WalkingMongolia #WalkMongolia #Asia #Travel #Sightseeing #Ger #Desert