Trans-Altai Gobi

a desert in the southwestern part of the Mongolian People’s Republic. The desert is situated between the Mongolian Altai in the north and the mountains of the Atas-Bogdo and the Tsagan-Bogdo in the south, occupying a landlocked basin at an altitude of 700–1,800 m, crisscrossed by the dry beds of intermittent streams (satry). The terrain is rocky, with some areas covered with sand and gravel, along with sparse vegetation like haloxylon and Ephedra. Near the rare springs there are stands of reeds, tamarisk, Russian wild olive, poplar, and camel thorn, while saltwort grows in salt marsh areas. The wildlife native to the Trans-Altai Gobi includes the dzheiran gazelle, the onager, an occasional wild camel, and, in the mountains, the Gobi bear.