In a major win for global conservation, China's Badain Jaran Desert – a surreal landscape of towering sand dunes and hidden lakes – has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List! The decision was announced during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi, cementing the desert’s status as a natural wonder.
Located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Badain Jaran is famous for its \"mega dunes\" (some reaching over 400 meters high) and rare alpine lakes that defy the arid environment. UNESCO praised the site as a \"unique ecological phenomenon\" critical to biodiversity.
Why it matters: This recognition boosts global awareness of fragile ecosystems and could spur sustainable tourism. Local experts say preserving the desert’s balance between human activity and nature is key. \"It’s a testament to coexistence,\" said a UNESCO delegate at the session.
Travel enthusiasts, take note: The desert’s otherworldly vistas are now officially bucket-list material!
Why it matters: This recognition boosts global awareness of fragile ecosystems and could spur sustainable tourism. Local experts say preserving the desert’s balance between human activity and nature is key. \"It’s a testament to coexistence,\" said a UNESCO delegate at the session.
