Gobi Lakes Valley desert steppe | |
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Ecology | |
Realm | Palearctic |
Biome | Deserts and xeric shrublands |
Geography | |
Area | 139,341 km2 (53,800 sq mi) |
Country | Mongolia |
Coordinates | 45°50′N 101°0′E / 45.833°N 101.000°E |
The Gobi Lakes Valley desert steppe ecoregion (WWF ID: PA1315) covers the narrow, flat valley in southwestern Mongolia that lies between the Khangai Mountains (to the north), and the Gobi-Altai Mountains (to the south). The region is known as the "Valley of the Lakes" because runoff from the mountains collect in lakes that have no outlet to the sea. Although the valley is a semi-arid desert steppe, it has areas of wetlands near the lakes that are important habit for water birds.[1][2][3]