The vast and formidable Gobi Desert covers an area of nearly 500,000 square miles across southern Mongolia and northern China. The Gobi, one of the world's largest deserts, also holds the distinction of being the northernmost desert on Earth. Located centrally within the Eurasian Continent, this region experiences wide seasonal temperature extremes, with daily average July temperatures reaching 113 degrees F, and average daily January temperatures dropping to negative 40 degrees F. The Gobi's continental location is also largely responsible for its aridity. Great distances from the oceans translate into little moisture and precipitation reaching this desert. In addition, the Gobi desert is bounded by mountain ranges, including: the Tien Shan and Altay to the west, the Hangayn to the north, the Greater Khingan Range ...