GOBI, gefbe, or SHAMO, shafmo. A vast desert region of Central Asia, constituting the eastern extension of the arid belt that stretches across the whole breadth of the Asiatic conti nent into Africa (Map: Asia, K 4). As gener ally defined, it includes only the desert area of Mongolia from the confines of Sinkiang on the west to the Khingan Mountains on the east, al though some geographers extend its western limits to Lob Nor, in about longitude 90° E. Beyond the Khingan range is a smaller arid region, commonly called the Eastern Gobi. The Gobi has the form of a great plateau, whose sur face, lying 3000 feet or more above the sea, is divided into dreary wastes of sand, rocky table lands, and mountains. The climate is severe, especially on the borders, and the rainfall scanty; the precipitation being generally sufficient, how ever, to furnish pasturage for flocks and herds during the summer months. Most of the nomadic
tribes inhabiting the interior are Buddhists. The permanent settlements are confined to the north ern part, which is traversed by spurs of the Tian Shan, Altai, and Yablonoi Mountains. A number of caravan routes lead across the desert from China proper to Siberia. Some allusions to the Gobi Desert are found in the writings of Marco Polo, but the first definite information we owe to the Jesuit Gerbillon, who made several jour neys across the country in 1688-98. It was later visited by the Dutchman Ysbrand Ides, in 1692 94, and twice (1727-28 and 1736) by Lorenz Lange, who was sent by the Russian Government to Peking. The most accurate and valuable infor mation about the desert was obtained by explor ers in the last fifty years, especially by Przheval ski and Sven Hedin (qq.v.).