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June 30, 2023 - Badain Jaran and Tengger Desert
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On June 29, 2023, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of two deserts that stretch across western Inner Mongolia, China, each marked by swaths of dark tan sand.
In the west, the Badain Jaran stretches across an area roughly the size of Costa Rica. Badain Jaran is famous for a vast field of megadunes, which tower between 660 to 980 feet (200 to 300 meters) high. The tallest is the Bilutu Sand Peak, said to be the tallest sand dune on Earth. It measures 1,500 feet (460 meters) tall, or roughly the same height as New York’s Empire State Building. The extremely arid Badain Jaran holds other surprises, too. Despite the fact that this desert receives less than 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each year, dozens of lakes speckle the sandy environment, especially in the southeast. The most stunning is Honghaizi, which has been called the “heart of the Earth” due to its red-tinted waters. More than 110 species of birds have been recorded near Honghaizi, including migrants and year-round residents.
The Tengger Desert is situated to the south and east of Badain Jaran and at the southern edge of the massive Gobi Desert. It is an inland drainage basin, although it is very far from any ocean or even frequent rain. It is the fourth largest desert in China, but it is also dotted with dozens of lakes, including Swan Lake and Moon Lake which can be visited. “Tengger” means “sky” in Mongolian, and is said to be a description of the rolling sands meeting an apparently endless sky. Swans migrate across the lake region of the Tengger Desert in both spring and autumn, drawing birdwatchers to this unique location.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Date Acquired: 6/29/2023
Resolutions:
Bands Used:
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
On June 29, 2023, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of two deserts that stretch across western Inner Mongolia, China, each marked by swaths of dark tan sand.
In the west, the Badain Jaran stretches across an area roughly the size of Costa Rica. Badain Jaran is famous for a vast field of megadunes, which tower between 660 to 980 feet (200 to 300 meters) high. The tallest is the Bilutu Sand Peak, said to be the tallest sand dune on Earth. It measures 1,500 feet (460 meters) tall, or roughly the same height as New York’s Empire State Building. The extremely arid Badain Jaran holds other surprises, too. Despite the fact that this desert receives less than 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each year, dozens of lakes speckle the sandy environment, especially in the southeast. The most stunning is Honghaizi, which has been called the “heart of the Earth” due to its red-tinted waters. More than 110 species of birds have been recorded near Honghaizi, including migrants and year-round residents.
The Tengger Desert is situated to the south and east of Badain Jaran and at the southern edge of the massive Gobi Desert. It is an inland drainage basin, although it is very far from any ocean or even frequent rain. It is the fourth largest desert in China, but it is also dotted with dozens of lakes, including Swan Lake and Moon Lake which can be visited. “Tengger” means “sky” in Mongolian, and is said to be a description of the rolling sands meeting an apparently endless sky. Swans migrate across the lake region of the Tengger Desert in both spring and autumn, drawing birdwatchers to this unique location.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Date Acquired: 6/29/2023
Resolutions:
Bands Used:
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
