Mongolia Gobi Desert , Yolyn Am

Mongolia Gobi Desert, Yolyn Am (Mongolian: Ёлын Ам, Lammergeier Valley) is a deep and narrow gorge in the Gurvansaikhan Mountains of southern Mongolia.

The valley is named after the Lammergeier, which is called Yol in Mongolian. The Lammergeier is an Old World vulture, hence the name is often translated to Valley of the Vultures or Valley of the Eagles.

The valley is located within Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Yolyn Am is found in the Zuun Saikhanii Nuruu (the Eastern Beauty) subrange of the Gurvansaikhan Mountains. The area, as part of the Gobi Desert, sees little precipitation.

However, Yolyn Am is notable for a deep ice field. The ice field reaches several meters thick by the end of winter, and is several kilometers long. In past years it remained year round, but the modern ice field tends to disappear by September.

Interesting part is the ice stays almost year around when it is over 30C daily during July and August.