Winner
New Tales of the Gobi Desert
Peak School, Carolyn Rong, Non-Fiction: Group 2
The Gobi is a desert spread between Mongolia and China. It covers hundreds of thousands of
miles. Reading through the vast amount of information about the Gobi, I have come to a better
understanding of its ecology and the joy and sorrow of its people.
Gobi: The Waterless Plains
When some people think about the Gobi, they imagine a scorching sun bearing down on lifeless
sand dunes. Life does not exist here as the Gobi is uninhabitable.
The truth is not far from that. In the past, the Gobi was home to the Khans, who conquered
most of Asia and Europe. They never lost a battle for nearly a century. They were formidable and
invincible. But their bravery was partly motivated by their search for more fertile land.
Even today, the harsh environment is still taking a heavy toll on its inhabitants. In 2009,
Mongolia had one of its coldest winters. Millions of cattle didn’t survive the murderous winter.
The nomads struggled in a fierce battle of survival, with hardly any food or water, watching the
death of the most important part of their livelihood.
Trekking through the Gobi today, do not be surprised to come across human skulls and
skeletons of cattle. Death loves to loom around and this is one of its favorite places on earth.
Gobi: The Treasure Land
But then, there is the other part of it. If you look really carefully, you would see the Gobi is
actually full of life. Digging into the sand, you may see water drops sparkling under the sunshine.
Plants, big or small, creep up between the rocks. Snow leopards, wild horses and Asses roam the
land. Cattles graze leisurely and follow their owners obediently. Beautiful sunset announces the
arrival of the night with tinkering stars decorating the pitch-black sky.
But that’s not it. Underneath the rocks lie precious resources like gold, copper, oil and gas.
People from all over the world come here to look for their share of fortune.
In the distance, you see a Ger, the traditional round, portable tent made of wood lattice and
heavy felt panels. The family dog is sniffing around with a sense of suspicion. Inside the Ger,
there is a hearth in the middle, used for cooking and heating. There is an altar with photos of this
happy family.
A mother and daughter are sitting on a blanket, enjoying their tea and afternoon snack. The
mother is drinking goat milk tea while her daughter nibbling on a piece of arrts, a fermented sun
dried goat cheese.
In the middle of the open space, the father and son are enjoying a ride together, not on the
back of a camel but on their brand new motorcycle.
Gobi: Blessing or Curse?
The Gobi was supposed to be a beautiful place, with all its resources. People come in flocks to
