Some of the sand dunes in China's Badain Jaran Desert, which sits just south of Mongolia in the Gobi Desert, tower more than 1,600 feet — some of the tallest on Earth.
"The desert also contains over 100 spring-fed lakes between the dunes that give the desert its name, which is Mongolian for 'mysterious lakes,'" de Lancie said. "Some of these lakes change color due to large populations of algae, brine shrimp, and mineral formations at different times of the year."
De Lancie also noted how this desert is home to the mysterious "singing sand dunes" phenomenon.
"[I]t is believed to be caused by an electrostatic charge generated by wind blowing the top layers of sand down a dune slope," he said, adding that this "emits a sharp, loud noise that can be maintained for more than a minute."