Yolyn Am Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

"Yolyn Am" is Mongolian for "Vulture's Mouth". It is an incredible sight to see this 3 metre thick ice sheet, in the middle of summer, in the middle of the South Gobi Desert. In winter, it's 30 metres thick. This place is poorly represented on TE. More info from Wikipedia here:

"Yolyn Am (Mongolian: Ёлын Ам, Lammergeier Valley) is a deep and narrow gorge in the Gurvansaikhan Mountains of southern Mongolia. The valley is named after the Lammergeier, which is called Yol in Mongolian. The Lammergeier is an Old World vulture, hence the name is often translated to Valley of the Vultures or Valley of the Eagles.

The valley is located within Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park.

Yolyn Am is found in the Zuun Saikhanii Nuruu (the Eastern Beauty) subrange of the Gurvansaikhan Mountains. The area, as part of the Gobi Desert, sees little precipitation. However, Yolyn Am is notable for a deep ice field. The ice field reaches several meters thick by the end of winter, and is several kilometers long. In past years it remained year round, but the modern ice field tends to disappear by September."

The red colour on the ice, is a coating of dust & sand, from the encircling Gobi Desert. I've included a plastic water bottle for scale.

This is the only other upload on TE:

This is a link to TrekEarth

syd1946, snunney, siolaw, Budapestman, noborders, saylan-cb, axiotea, trekks, Partha_c, MLINES trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

syd1946 (17945) 2007-12-17 0:48

Hello Chris,
I've never seen something like this...looks like a piece of ice in a desert.Very interesting subject with the girl adding a lot to enjoy.The note also is very informative!

Greetings,
Thomas

snunney (35256) 2007-12-17 1:05

Hello Chris,
You certainly search out the unusual for us to see. Thanks for sharing this interesting subject with us.

siolaw (25800) 2007-12-17 2:09

Hi chris,
An interesting view of the melting glacier with muted colors working well and sharp details.. the person gives scale and adds interest.. the plastic bottle could have been cloned out but no problem!
Laurent

Budapestman (42566) 2007-12-17 2:14

Hi Chris,
Very interesting view with spectacular composition. Really impressive and particular shot, note is superb. Thank you for sharing. Have a nice week
George

noborders (14201) 2007-12-17 3:03

Very informative and yes, incredible that you took this shot at the very end of June... I'm not sure about the plastic bottle, even if as you write that it is for scale, as there is a pretty model who does that job too - but your photo is so interesting otherwise, that I like it like that...
TFS,
Cath.

mehmetemin (7217) 2007-12-17 3:55

Hi Chris
Amazing color, great capture... color, light is perfect
Mehmet Emin

UnTrained (0) 2007-12-17 4:46

Hi Chris,
I think I heard about that before but never saw anything from that ice. Dust and dirt seems to cover it at the top so it it not detectable in the first moment it is ice. Good view and well added scale with the woman. I assume complex light there.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

jrj (34779) 2007-12-17 5:09

Red ice - sure something special chris. In fact even up here it happens some times but then coloured by some algeas and not blowing sand. Most interesting photo.

saylan-cb (12726) 2007-12-17 8:24

Hi Chris
Nice shot...
Wonderful composition and colurs...
Well done...
TFS/Regards

axiotea (16221) 2007-12-17 8:45

bonsoir chris
Vow! incredible, I never saw a such huge piece of ice like this one! It seems the light was pretty strong but its does not take away the interest of this place! the woman is well positioned and gives life to this scenery!
Cheers
Marilyn

Graal (58479) 2007-12-17 13:11

Bonsoir Chris,
interesting place and view. Good informations. Well done photo. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

barrufeto_77 (25897) 2007-12-17 14:08

Hi Chris.

Maybe a wider view?

Rgs,Oscar

trekks (14332) 2007-12-17 15:17

Strange but good factual photo, really interesting to see ice sheet in summer heat. Contrast well with stones. TFS this one.

cheers, bill

Partha_c (1985) 2007-12-17 22:46

Hi Chris. An informative note with a beautiful shot. The thickness is well presented along with the rare colour. Placing the bottle for having a sense of proportion is a good decision. Enjoyed. Regards.
Partha

batalay (21116) 2007-12-18 4:53

Hello Chris,

As usual, you've given us much to contemplate. Indeed, this is an entirely under-represented area of the world. Is it the altitude, the temperature, a combination... that keeps the ice field intact for much of the year.

Warm regards,

Bulent

MLINES (10922) 2007-12-19 1:40

Hi Chris, You must have thoroghly enjoyed seeing so many wonderful places. We gain the benefit from all your planning and executing.. Very good composition and interesting notes. TFS. Murray.

ysabaner (1067) 2007-12-21 12:20

Hi Chris,
All of one piece of rock is very interesting, well done.
Yahya