The desert also features over 100 spring-fed lakes that lie between the dunes, some of which are fresh water while others are extremely saline.

[1] It is also crossed by one river, the Ruo Shui ("weak water"), which has formed an alluvial plain in the desert.

Located in the Alxa Plateau at about 1,200 meters (3,900 ft) above sea level it is listed as a subsection to the Gobi Desert.

It is bound to the north by the Gobi and to the East by Mount Lang which separates it from the Ulan Buh Desert (Pinyin: wū lán bù hé shā mò Chinese: 乌兰布和沙漠) Although most of the dunes in the desert are not stationary, the larger ones usually ranging above 200 meters (660 ft) are static.

This rigid structure also allows peaks, cliffs, gullies and even caves to form as a result of water erosion and desertification.

Throughout the desert some lakes change color due to large populations of algae, Brine shrimp and mineral formations at different times in year.

Runoff from the mountains is then collected through gravel deposits and this allows them to run through the desert, providing water sources for the scattered oases.

The largely elongated shallow lakes mainly appear in the megadune area in the southeastern margin of the desert.

Their depth often reaches less than 2 meters (6 ft 7 in) and only measure about .2 square kilometers (0.077 sq mi; 49 acres).

The shallow lakes in the southeastern region of the desert tend to have low salt concentration, averaging at less than 20 grams per liter (0.67 oz/U.S.

Although it is not fully understood, it is believed that it is caused by an electrostatic charge that is generated as wind pulls the top layers of sand down a dune slope.

[6] The Badain Jaran Desert is made up of hundreds of dunes ranging from small to large.

Based upon weather patterns, temperature and sight-seeing possibilities the best time to visit is between June and October.

Besides the fact that it is much colder, winter and spring have very strong winds coming mainly from the northwest getting to more than 60 days long.

The fine state of preservation allows visitors to explore the temples attractions including statues, wood carvings, artifacts and a small white pagoda.

[4] The infamous Jiabiangou Labor Camp was located on the edge of the desert and 27 kilometers (17 mi) from Jiuquan, Gansu.

Between 1957 and 1961, the camp was used for "re-education through labor" to imprison intellectuals and former government officials that were declared to be "rightist" in the Anti-Rightist Movement of the Communist Party.

The remains of the camp and the unmarked graveyards were poorly maintained and are heavily guarded by the Communist Chinese government.