At first glance, most of us would think this photo has been manipulated -- because deserts do not have a backdrop of snow-capped mountains right? Well, there is such a place in the world, says STOMPer ChaoRen.
Wrote the STOMPer:
"These photos are taken by Alexander Savchenko, of the mysterious and perhaps, nature-defying Chara Sands in Siberia.
"The miniature desert is located in the Trans-Baikal, just 25 miles from the Kodar Glaciers.
"The desert is 10km long and 5km wide, and its yellow-brown tones make a stark contrast against the blue-white tones of the mountains, ice fields and blue lakes.
"It is not actually a desert, but it closely resembles one with its loose and shifting sands, about 15 to 30 metres high.
"To have such a terrain in the tundra region is nothing short of a miracle and a well-recognised one around the world.
"This miracle formation has been around since 55 to 100 thousand years ago, during the Muruktin glaciation period. It was originally a lake delta in front of the Sakukan glacier, and the hollow was once filled with water.
"Wind erosion in the Holocene era produced the rare terrain. Some sand dunes are made of sand and snow, which makes it a wonder to look at."
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Sahara Desert snowed twice. Once in 1979 and the second time was just 2 weeks ago.