Khongoryn Els also called  Duut Mankhan is popularly known as the “Singing Sand dunes”. It lies within the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park in Mongolia. The sand dunes extend to over 965 square kilometres (373 sq mi) area.

The dunes extending up to the foot of the high Altai Mountains range, lie about 180 kilometres (110 mi) from Dalanzadgad. It is at a distance of 130 kilometres (81 mi) along the desert tracks to Bogd in Övörkhangai in the north, and 215 kilometres (134 mi) to Bayanlig on the northwest in Bayankhongor.

Mongolia has three types of deserts, and some of it has enough grass for livestock to graze, but the Khongoryn Els, in the extreme south of the Gobi Desert, has a huge range of sand dunes – 6–12 kilometres (3.7–7.5 mi) wide, 100 kilometres (62 mi) long and rising to a height of 80 metres (260 ft) (a maximum height to the apex can be 300 metres (980 ft)). They are similar to the dunes of Egypt. The sands have attractive curves which end in a sharp edge, making wave like patterns on the sand. They continually change shape due to wind and reflect yellow-white colours as the intensity of light changes during the day.

As the sand is moved due to winds or is in the process of collapse due to small avalanches, a strong sound is made giving it the name “Singing Sands.

The sound is also attributed to heat, the weather conditions in the desert and to the avalanche effect caused by the sand particles moving harmoniously. This sound is also compared to the sound made by an aircraft during take-off and landing stages.

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