Water resources: groundwater maintains dune landscape

The Badain Jaran desert in western Inner Mongolia in China has a unique landscape that contains 72 lakes, with a total water surface area of 23 km2, and the world's highest stationary sand dunes, which are up to 500 m tall--despite the prevailing dry and windy weather conditions. Here we presen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 2004-11, Vol.432 (7016), p.459-460
Main Authors: Chen, Jian Sheng, Li, Ling, Wang, Ji Yang, Barry, D A, Sheng, Xue Fen, Gu, Wei Zu, Zhao, Xia, Chen, Liang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Desert environments
Drying
Dunes
Freshwater
Groundwater
Lakes
Landscapes
Sand dunes
Surface area
Water resources
Weather conditions
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Summary:The Badain Jaran desert in western Inner Mongolia in China has a unique landscape that contains 72 lakes, with a total water surface area of 23 km2, and the world's highest stationary sand dunes, which are up to 500 m tall--despite the prevailing dry and windy weather conditions. Here we present evidence of a major groundwater system that underpins the factors leading to this landscape. Our finding could transform plans for the region's water resources.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/432459a