The South Gobi, also known as Omnogov province, is the largest as well as the least populated of Mongolia’s provinces. Many people have the misconception that the Gobi Desert, like with many other desert regions across the globe, is devoid of any kind of life. The Gobi Desert is an enormous desert area. In spite of this, the vast majority of the area is made up of steppe, which is abundant in flora and fauna and serves as a breeding ground for camels. A diverse array of flora and fauna, including wild asses, Bactrian camels, snow leopards, mountain sheep, and gazelles, may be found in this area. The Bactrian camel is an important component of the ecology that resides in this area. They are symbolic of the Gobi desert and have been domesticated by nomadic households. These households make use of them not just for going from one location in the desert to another but also for obtaining things like milk and clothing.
The South Gobi Desert Area is one of the most fascinating locations in the world because of its isolation, lack of human habitation, and unparalleled beauty. It is thought that this region was formerly home to a big body of water in the distant past. It is presently keeping dinosaur bones and eggs hidden under the sand from the past. After it dried up, the region was subjected to erosion throughout time, which provided palaeontologists with exquisite examples of dinosaur fossils. The area was given the designation of Great Gobi Desert Strictly Protected Area by the government in the year 1975. The United Nations Organization ranked it as the world’s fourth largest Biosphere Reserve when it made the announcement in 1991.
Main Tourist Attractions of South Gobi
South Gobi Museum
The South Gobi Museum, which is found in Dalanzadgad, does not have a significant collection of dinosaur artefacts on exhibit. The only things that are on display here are some beautiful paintings, a few dinosaur eggs, and various bones and pieces of dinosaurs. The museum in Ulaanbaatar received all of the most impressive displays. There is also a large stuffed vulture and several Buddhist relics among the other artefacts.
Maaniin Khiid
Maaniin Khiid is a restaurant that has been around since 2002 and can be found in Dalanzadgad. The South Gobi province is home to just one Buddhist monastery, and this one is it. The monastery is not very large, yet it is really intriguing. Around ten in the morning each day, you may see lamas performing rituals at this location.
Bayanzag
Bayanzag is famous all over the globe as the location of a significant paleontological find. It was at this location that the well-known American palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews and his team discovered the dinosaur eggs, which had never been seen anywhere else in the world previously. Even in modern times, palaeontologists from all over the globe continue to investigate this area in the hopes of unearthing one-of-a-kind paleontological finds at this abundant location.
Yolyn Am
Yolyn Am is a town that can be found right in the middle of the South Gobi aimag and is around 45 kilometres away from Dalanzadgad. It is a stunning valley that is located amid the picture-perfect mountains, and it is also known by the name Eagle’s Mouth. This little valley is surrounded by towering rock walls on all sides, creating a dramatic setting that is both magnificent and home to a variety of animals and a glacier that stays frozen even on the warmest days of summer. At the beginning of the hike, there is a quaint Nature Museum with exhibits on dinosaur eggs and bones, in addition to other fascinating stuff.
Khongoryn Els
Khongoryn Els is located in the Sevrei soum of the South Gobi region, which is known for its large sand dunes, some of which are around 300 metres high. The width of these dunes may reach up to 20 km, while their length can reach up to 100 km. The region’s most impressive sand dunes may be located to the northwest of the area. The Khongurun River, which runs through this area, is responsible for the formation of oasis. There are a lot of travel companies that provide excursions to the sand dunes that include camel riding and hiking. When climbed to the summit, the sand dunes provide spectacular views of the surrounding desert.
