description Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag) Overview
The Flaming Cliffs, also called Bayanzag, are a fossil-rich area of red and orange sandstone in Mongolia's Gobi Desert. Expeditions led by Roy Chapman Andrews for the American Museum of Natural History worked there during the 1920s and uncovered important Cretaceous fossils, including dinosaur nests and eggs associated with Protoceratops. The name refers to the intense color of the cliffs in low sunlight, while the Mongolian name Bayanzag refers to the area's abundant saxaul shrubs.
insights Ranking position
Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag) ranks #17 of 96 in the Badland ranking, behind Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, ahead of Drumheller Badlands.
help Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag) FAQ
Why are Mongolia's Flaming Cliffs called Bayanzag?
Bayanzag is the Mongolian name commonly associated with the site and refers to the area's saxaul vegetation. The English name Flaming Cliffs was popularized after Roy Chapman Andrews saw the red sandstone glowing in evening light.
What dinosaur discoveries were made at the Flaming Cliffs?
American Museum of Natural History expeditions found important Cretaceous fossils there during the 1920s. Discoveries included Protoceratops remains and the first dinosaur eggs recognized by scientists at the time.
Were the famous Flaming Cliffs eggs really laid by Protoceratops?
The eggs were originally attributed to Protoceratops because that dinosaur was abundant nearby. Later evidence linked comparable eggs to Oviraptor, changing the interpretation of one of the site's best-known discoveries.
How do travelers reach the Flaming Cliffs from Ulaanbaatar?
Bayanzag lies in Mongolia's South Gobi region, far from Ulaanbaatar and near common routes through Dalanzadgad. Most visitors travel with a driver or organized Gobi tour because roads outside settlements can be unpaved and poorly marked.
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