How do underground aquifers support lakes and springs in the Eastern Gobi?

In the Eastern Gobi, underground aquifers play a critical role in sustaining the local environment because the region lacks significant surface rivers. These aquifers support small lakes and springs primarily because they are located near the surface and contain relatively abundant, only partly mineralized water.1

While much of the Gobi desert experiences drainage that is largely underground—with surface streams often disappearing into loose soil or salty depressions—the specific conditions in the Eastern Gobi allow these subterranean water supplies to feed surface features directly. This availability of water is essential for the region, as it provides a more reliable source than the unpredictable surface precipitation, which averages only up to 8 inches (200 mm) per year.21