The Gobi Desert spreads across parts of China and Mongolia, far inland from any ocean.

The longer version

Distance from the ocean dries the interior of a continent. Moist air loses its water as it travels inland, and mountain ranges intercept what remains, leaving little for basins beyond. This rain shadow effect, combined with cold winters and strong winds, produces a desert far from the tropics.

Unlike hot sandy deserts, this one is largely rock and gravel, with cold temperatures for much of the year. Snow can fall, and grasslands fringe its edges. Winds lift fine dust that travels long distances eastward. Fossil beds in the region have yielded important finds about prehistoric life, preserved in ancient sediments.

Where this entry sits

These facts wander across maps, borders, deserts, rivers, mountains, and the extreme corners of the natural world. Each one is short and self-contained, offering a small surprise about places you may never visit rather than anything you actually need. The full list sits on the Geography page, where every entry is listed in order.