Crescent Lake near Dunhuang, China Jul 19, 2023

Crescent Lake near Dunhuang, China

Crescent Lake is a captivating natural wonder hidden in the vast Gobi Desert near the Chinese city of Dunhuang in Gansu province. This oasis, named for its unusual shape, has been a vital water source here for centuries. The lake is thought to have formed in a valley carved by wind and been fed by an underground spring. It sits amid Dunhuang"s "singing" sand dunes, which make a noise when the wind blows. The sand dunes also help stop the lake from being swallowed by sand and conservation efforts have ensured that it doesn"t dry out. Visitors enjoy boating on the lake, camel rides through the surrounding dunes, and seeing ancient Buddhist art and murals in the nearby Mogao Caves.

© R7 Photo/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Jul 19, 2018Cosplay strongly encouraged
Jul 19, 2019A place fit for the gods
Jul 19, 2020Venice by night
Jul 19, 2021Wander the ancient medina
Jul 19, 2022National Bison Month
Jul 19, 2024A young jaguar on a riverbank, Pantanal, Brazil
Jul 19, 2025National Moth Week

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 6, 2019Watch your step
Aug 2, 2018The Aomori Nebuta Festival parade, Japan
Sep 3, 2022Skyscraper Day
Dec 12, 2021Wicker fields in Cañamares, Spain
Oct 3, 2018Monarch butterflies migrate south
Aug 12, 2020King of the dinosaurs
Dec 23, 2023Festivus
Nov 22, 2023Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Sep 20, 2024Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
May 18, 2018It’s Endangered Species Day
Sep 3, 2019In the Most Serene Republic
Aug 14, 2022World Lizard Day
Nov 28, 2023Giving Tuesday
Aug 1, 2019Hawaii Volcanoes National Park turns 103
Jul 8, 2024National Blueberry Day
Jul 11, 2021Why, aloe there
Jul 12, 2023Nakupenda Beach Nature Reserve, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Aug 23, 2024Prasat Phanom Rung temple ruins, Thailand
Apr 23, 2023World Book Day
Jan 24, 2025Thorrablot: The Icelandic midwinter festival
Jan 1, 2023New Year s Day
Dec 30, 2019Sky island views
Apr 18, 2021In Sicily, history is everywhere
Jun 11, 2019Installation art turns heads
Apr 12, 2018Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia
Apr 21, 2025International Dark Sky Week
Dec 5, 2024Tufa formations in Mono Lake, California
Oct 12, 2022Fossil Day
Sep 16, 2022Puma in Patagonia
Jun 6, 2024The 80th anniversary of D-Day