Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All China Alxa Mystery Lakes of the Badain Jaran Desert

Mystery Lakes of the Badain Jaran Desert

No one is exactly sure why over a hundred lakes have formed amongst the tallest sand dunes on Earth.

Alxa, China

Added By
hannahlund252
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Mystery Lakes of the Badain Jaran Desert   hannahlund252 / Atlas Obscura User
Mystery Lakes of the Badain Jaran Desert   hannahlund252 / Atlas Obscura User
Mystery Lakes of the Badain Jaran Desert   NASA
Mystery Lakes of the Badain Jaran Desert   hannahlund252 / Atlas Obscura User
Mystery Lakes of the Badain Jaran Desert   hannahlund252 / Atlas Obscura User
Mystery Lakes of the Badain Jaran Desert   hannahlund252 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The spring-fed lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert are not mirages. They are a geographical anomaly that has been fascinating visitors for years.

Located near Alashan Youqi in Western Inner Mongolia Autonomous Prefecture, roughly 100 of such lakes nestle in-between "Megadunes" - mammoth sand dunes, among the largest in the world. With such sand spires swirling in the background, visitors witness what appears as one of nature's greatest contradictions. Sheep graze and birds swoop toward the saline waters; waters whose surfaces reflect the yellow-brown of sand.

Many researchers agree that the lake water originates from groundwater stored beneath the sands. They contend that this groundwater concentrates in some areas to form springs, which feeds a layer of freshwater into deeper lakes. Despite this presence of groundwater, however, most of the lakes have a high level of salinity. Roughly 50% of the lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert are salt lakes.

Other researchers point to factors such as precipitation and snow-melt in certain areas, given that Inner Mongolia Autonomous Prefecture faces intense winters. More research is being conducted to verify the source of the water, as well as their rate of evaporation, or in some cases, disappearance.

Whatever the cause of this collection of lakes, visitors can be certain to be uncertain about whether what they witness makes sense. After all, it's not every day one can see lakes in the desert.

Related Tags

Lakes Deserts Natural Wonders Mystery Nature Water

Know Before You Go

From Zhangye, Gansu Province (which is on the Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway line), get a bus to Alxa Youqi (in Chinese: 阿拉善右旗). A driver can take you to the desert entrance. To fully experience the desert, you will need a guide. A jeep for two days, one night is around 2000 RMB (jeeps can hold up to 4 people). Bargain liberally.

Community Contributors

Added By

hannahlund252

Edited By

EricGrundhauser

  • EricGrundhauser

Published

May 1, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84773
  • https://water.tallyfox.com/discussions/mysterious-lakes-badain-jaran-desert-located-china-and-mongolia
  • http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1755-6724.12266_13/pdf
  • http://www.foreignercn.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=7939:badain-jaran-desert&catid=39:inner-mongolia&Itemid=123
  • http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/716394.shtml
  • http://throughthedragongate.com/2013/08/08/sandstorm/
Mystery Lakes of the Badain Jaran Desert
Badain Jaran Desert
Alxa
China
39.216186, 101.666917
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Mati Si

Zhangye Shi, China

miles away

Zhangye National Geopark

Zhangye Shi, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alxa

Alxa

China

Places 3
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Mati Si

Zhangye Shi, China

miles away

Zhangye National Geopark

Zhangye Shi, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alxa

Alxa

China

Places 3
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Boat in the khors of Oman

    Khasab, Oman

    The Desert Fjords of Oman

    Take the most scenic fjord landscape in Norway and add dramatic red cliffs, warm clear water, and playful dolphins.

  • Jusanji Pond in autumn

    Cheongsong, South Korea

    Jusanji Pond

    Trees emerge from the surface of this small man-made reservoir.

  • Lake Tyrrell during sunset

    Sea Lake, Australia

    Lake Tyrrell

    Victoria's largest salt lake is a favorite haunt for photographers and stargazers.

  • Stromatolite.

    Cervantes, Australia

    Lake Thetis

    One of the few places in the world home to living stromatolites.

  • The cave entrance is unassuming.

    Oracle, Arizona

    Peppersauce Cave

    An off-the-beaten path cave with an underground lake.

  • Guelta d’Archei.

    Chad

    Guelta d'Archei

    Camels and crocodiles share the black waters of this stunning Saharan oasis.

  • The salt lake becomes colorful in warm temperatures because of algae growth

    Yuncheng, China

    Yuncheng Salt Lake

    Rainbow-hued in the summer and crystalline in the winter, this salty lake has inspired battles, temples, and plenty of awe.

  • Laws Spring engraving.

    Williams, Arizona

    Laws Spring

    This remote desert watering hole has a connection to a curious chapter of American history.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.