Road in the Gobi Desert

Author: Sven Hedin (Sweden) / Country:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-06-01
Features: On August 29, 1927, we left Sanda Temple and continued westward. The road was due south. From the dry gully behind the campsite, we had to follow this direction for many days of winding paths. We circumvented the arid desert spread west of Sanda Temple, and ahead stood the towering Harlanlin Mountains with their low, dimly shaped peaks. Sand dunes, sometimes vegetated and sometimes bare, were where the expedition passed through. The dunes formed shields, crescents, towers, and dolphin-backed ridges in various shapes, the scenery reminiscent of the desert in Tarim. As we advanced from the grassland to the desert, we found ourselves between two high hills, and finally spotted Hobolin Lake on a flat, low plain, where we set up our tents. This lake was actually two small pools—one fresh and the other mineralized. The lowland was surrounded by high sand dunes, almost lifeless. Two of them, according to Qian Mumen’s measurements, stood 12.5 meters and 18 meters tall, respectively. This landscape was utterly unfamiliar to most members of our team. The next day, we traveled straight through the sand dunes, initially through a narrow strip, but the scenery suddenly shifted to a plain dotted with small ridges. To the right were high sand heaps, and under the yellow, winding hills, the vibrant green of the young plants seemed even more radiant. Only with swift camels and light loads could one choose the direct route through the arid desert; a large group of travelers found it difficult to pass. On one day late in August, we continued westward. To our left was a vast sandy area, while the sand belt on our right grew narrower and eventually disappeared. The melody of the Russian folk song "Volga Boatmen's Song" drifted into my ears, but what we experienced were the groans of camels struggling under heavy loads. We gradually delved deeper into this magnificent region, mile by mile. P1-2