Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area is a nature reserve in Gobi desert, situated in the south-western part of Mongolia at the border with China. A similar reserve in the Gobi exists further to the west - the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area. Both reserves form one unit, the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area (SPA), which encompasses a total of 53,000 km. Great Gobi A is one of the last refuges for critically endangered animals, like wild Bactrian camels and Gobi bears. Great Gobi A lies in the southwestern part of Mongolia in
Gobi Desert Water is scarce, with no streams, no lakes, no wells, and precipitation falls seldom. The prevailing winds blow from the west and northwest, and the pall of dust overhangs the country as in the Takla Makan and the desert of Lop. Characteristic of the flora are wild garlic, "Kalidium gracile", wormwood, saxaul, "Nitraria schoberi", "Caragana", Ephedra, saltwort and the grass "Lasiagrostis splendens". The taana wild onion "Allium polyrrhizum" is the main browse eaten by many herd animals, and Mongolians claim that this is essential to produce the correct, slightly hazelnut-like flavour of camel airag (fermented milk). This great desert country