The Badain Jaran Desert – Towers of Sand and Lakes was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2024. Why has its spectacular scenery and geological value been recognized worldwide? In this article, we will explain the appeal of this desert and the reasons for its registration in an easy-to-understand manner at an educational level.
What is the Badain Jaran Desert?
Geographical Features and Location
The Badain Jaran Desert is a vast desert located in the northwest of China, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and is the third largest desert in China. The desert spreads across the western part of the Alashan Plateau, with the Badain Jaran Mountains rising to the east and surrounded by many mountain ranges. As part of the Mongolian Plateau, the Badain Jaran Desert has a particularly distinctive landscape among the dry desert regions of China, and is considered an important natural heritage site of the country.
Types of sand dunes and their formation
The Badain Jaran Desert is known for the diversity and grandeur of its sand dunes. The desert is home to some of the tallest sand dunes in the world, especially the gigantic dunes known as megadunes. These dunes are formed by the deposition and movement of sand by the wind, and continue to change shape over time. Types of sand dunes include barchan dunes, barhanoid chains, and star dunes, each with their own unique shape and formation mechanism. In particular, the stable megadunes are unique in the world for their height and scale, and dominate the desert landscape.
The existence of lakes and their unique characteristics
Another feature of the Badain Jaran Desert is the numerous lakes that dot it. These lakes are located between the sand dunes, and many of them are salt lakes, creating a colorful landscape. The existence of the lakes is believed to be the result of groundwater seepage and past climate changes, and each lake has a different salinity and color, and is also influenced by the microbial community. These lakes act as oases in the desert and play an important role in the desert ecosystem.
Climate and Ecosystems
The Badain Jaran Desert belongs to an extremely dry temperate climate, with very little annual precipitation and a large temperature difference between daytime and nighttime. Even in this harsh environment, a unique ecosystem has formed in the desert. Plants grow mainly on groundwater, and many species are highly drought-tolerant. The fauna is mainly nocturnal, and species adapted to extreme temperature fluctuations live there. These creatures survive the harsh desert environment and maintain the balance of the ecosystem.
History of the Badain Jaran Desert
Ancient geological evolution
The formation of the Badain Jaran Desert is the result of geological processes dating back millions of years. As part of the Mongolian Plateau, the desert was gradually shaped by ancient tectonic movements, weathering, and erosion. In particular, the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the associated climatic changes had a major impact on the evolution of the desert. The region was once a humid environment, but over time it became increasingly dry, forming the vast desert area we see today. Topographical features such as sand dunes and lakes were formed over time by erosion and deposition by wind and water, resulting in the unique landscape we see today.
Historical human activities and cultural heritage
The Badain Jaran Desert is not just a natural wonder, but has also been a stage for human activity since ancient times. Ancient rock paintings and ruins are scattered around the desert, which tell the story of human presence and culture over the past several thousand years. In particular, there are many rock paintings on Mount Mandera, which depict the lives of the people who lived in this area between 6,000 and 4,000 years ago. The rock paintings depict the fauna and hunting scenes of the time, suggesting that the climate was wetter than it is today. These cultural heritage sites provide valuable clues to what the environment of this area was like in the past.
Climate change and desert evolution
The history of the Badain Jaran Desert has been strongly influenced by climate change. In particular, climatic fluctuations over the past few thousand years have shaped the evolution and transition of the desert. The change from a humid climate to a dry climate led to the desertification of the region, resulting in the formation of the present-day arid desert. Recent studies have also shown that the region has experienced rapid climate changes in the past. These fluctuations have affected groundwater supplies and the formation of lakes, directly affecting the current desert landscape.
Modern Desert Conservation and Management
In modern times, various conservation measures are being taken to protect the Badain Jaran Desert's unique natural landscape and cultural value. The area is registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is subject to international protection. It has also been designated as a national park and managed as a nature reserve, promoting the protection of the region's ecosystem and cultural heritage. Local residents and traditional livestock activities continue in harmony with environmental protection, and sustainable use is being promoted. In addition, scientific research and monitoring are being carried out to mitigate the effects of climate change and conserve the desert environment.
Why was the Badain Jaran Desert designated a World Heritage Site?
Natural beauty and scenic excellence (criterion vii)
Megadune and its grandeur
The mega dunes of the Badain Jaran Desert are known worldwide for their size and beauty. These sand dunes are among the tallest in the world, reaching a relative height of 460 meters, making them a sight to behold. These mega dunes were formed over a long period of time by the wind, creating a continuous wave-like landscape that stretches across the desert. The sight of these giant sand dunes gives the viewer an overwhelming sense of scale, and makes you feel the power of nature and the greatness of time.
The uniqueness of singing sand and wind eroded landforms
Another attraction of the Badain Jaran Desert is the phenomenon known as "singing sand." This is when dry sand makes a distinctive sound when moved by the wind, and occurs on a particularly large scale in this desert. This makes the desert not just a visual treat, but an aural experience as well. The topography shaped by wind erosion also makes the desert unique. The sharp ridges and smooth sandstone shapes carved by wind are like natural sculptures that amaze and inspire visitors to the desert.
The various lakes and their aesthetic value
The Badain Jaran Desert is dotted with many colorful lakes, whose beauty adds depth to the desert landscape. These lakes are formed by groundwater, and each lake has a different salinity and color, creating a vivid color contrast in the desert. Desert plants grow around the lakes, and the landscape woven by the gold of the sand dunes and the blue and green of the lakes is a perfect example of natural beauty. This diverse group of lakes is a rare and beautiful sight that shows that life can exist even in the harsh desert environment.
Geological values and evolution of deserts (Criterion viii)
Geological process and its significance
The Badain Jaran Desert is a geologically very important place in terms of its formation. The desert has been formed by geological changes, weathering, and erosion over millions of years. In particular, the uplift and fault activity of the Tibetan Plateau had a major impact on the desert's topography, resulting in the vast desert area we see today. Strong winds and arid climates are involved in the formation of sand dunes, and the combination of these factors has created the unique topography of the Badain Jaran Desert. These geological processes provide vital information for understanding the history of the Earth.
Scientific value of dune and lake formation
The Badain Jaran Desert is also an important base for scientific research into the formation of sand dunes and lakes. The sand dunes in this region were formed by the deposition of sand by the wind, and their stable shape has been maintained for a long time. The lakes were formed by the upwelling of groundwater, and their formation is deeply related to past climate changes and crustal movements. The existence of these sand dunes and lakes provides important data for the study of global climate change and the water cycle, and they are valuable research subjects for geologists and climatologists.
Historical evidence of climate change
The Badain Jaran Desert holds a wealth of historical evidence of past climate change. The desert's geological strata and lake sediments record the transition from a past wet climate to the present dry climate, providing important clues for understanding global climate change. Lake sediments in particular provide valuable information for elucidating the history of climate change, as they reveal patterns of climate change over the past several thousand years. Through such geological evidence, the Badain Jaran Desert plays an important role in deepening our understanding of the Earth's climate history.
summary
The Badain Jaran Desert has been recognized as a World Heritage Site due to its spectacular natural beauty and geological value. The unique landscape and long history of this desert are important testimonies of the evolution of the Earth and the history of mankind. It is expected that its protection and research will continue in the future.
English 
日本語