Distribution of the Yardang Landform in the World

Nationwide Yardang Landscape

The Yardang landform in China spans over 20,000 square kilometers and is primarily located in the northwest of the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai, the middle and lower reaches of the Shule River, and the fringes of Lop Nur in Xinjiang. It can also be found sporadically in Ulanqab League in Inner Mongolia and Guangdong Province. The Yardang landform, found in the Lop Nur area, is primarily concentrated in four locations: Longcheng and the ancient city of Loulan in the lower reaches of the Kongque River, Bailongdui, Sanlongsha (part of this geopark), and Aqike Valley.

Worldwide Yardang Landscape

Although not a widespread landform, Yardangs can be found in deserts across all continents except for Australia. Yardangs are primarily found in Egypt, Libya, and Chad in North Africa, Niger in West Africa, as well as the Mauritania coast in West Africa. In Asia, they can be found in the Taklimakan Desert and Qaidam Basin, as well as some deserts in Iran. They are also present on the Peruvian coast of South America and the Mojave Desert in North America.