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How do the Helan Mountains protect the Ningxia plain from desert sandstorms?
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Ningxia
Huang He (Yellow River) in Hui Autonomous Region of Ningxia, north-central China.
The Helan Mountains act as a physical barrier that shelters the Ningxia plain from the harsh environmental conditions of the west. Specifically, the mountains serve as a protective shield against sandstorms originating from the Tengger Desert, which is situated to the west of the range. By blocking these winds, the mountains help mitigate the impact of desert-borne sand on the agricultural lands of the Huang He plain.1