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Gobi Gurvansaikhan Desert Fossil

Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party.

Mongolia (Asia and the Pacific)

Date of Submission: 01/08/1996
Criteria: (vii)(viii)(ix)(x)
Category: Natural
Submission prepared by:
Ministry of Enlightenment
Coordinates:
Lat. 43° to 44° N ; Long. 100° to 103° E
Ref.: 939

Description

Gobi Gurvansaikhan (meaning 'Three Beauties of the Gobi") desert fossil site located inside and in buffer zone of Gobi Gurvansakhan park encompasses the series of ridges and valleys that make up the eastem end of the Gobi Altai mountains. Richest localities of late Crafeceous dinosaurs in the world are located surrounding of Gobi Gurvansaikhan in Bayanzag, Turgegeen Shireh, Dzamyin Khond, Uden Sair, Ukha Tolgod, Nemegt, Altan Ula, Bugeen Tsav, Gurilyin Tsav etc. Many unique dinosaur skeletons were found from those localities such as "Fighting two dinosaurs (Veloceraptor and Protoceratops)", "Embryo of Oviraptorsaur", "Infant of Protoceratops babies", "Complete Skeletons of Giant Carnivorous dinosaurTarbosaurus", "Eggs of Dinosaurs".

Gurvansaikhan includes the highest diversity of plant life in the Gobi Altai, with over 620 species of flowering plants. Most are characteristic of Central Asian deserts, including 38 endemic species. Fifty-two species of mammals are found here, including eight species listed in the Mongolian Red Book as endangered. Over 240 bird species occur in the area, including 34 resident species, 99 breeding species, and 70 migrants. Annual precipitation ranges from less than 50 mm in desert lowlands to more than 200 mm in higher mountain areas.