Ordos Plateau, Geographic plateau in Inner Mongolia, China
The Ordos Plateau is a geographic highland in Inner Mongolia located within the northern bend of the Yellow River. The landscape features sandy terrain with two desert regions spread across elevations of roughly 1,100 meters.
Archaeological digs in the 1970s uncovered human fossils in the Sjara-osso River valley dating from 30,000 to 60,000 years ago. These discoveries show that the plateau has been inhabited since ancient times.
The region blends Han Chinese and Mongolian traditions visible in local settlements and daily practices. Walking through villages here, you encounter both cultural influences in architecture and how people live together.
The plateau receives little rainfall, ranging from 160 millimeters in the west to 400 millimeters in the east annually. Temperatures vary greatly between seasons, so bring clothing suitable for changing conditions throughout the year.
The plateau sits above substantial coal reserves concentrated near its eastern edge. The underlying rock foundation originates from the Carboniferous and Jurassic periods, creating distinctive geology for this region.
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