The name of the largest desert in Asia is the Gobi Desert. Spanning parts of northern and northwestern China and southern Mongolia, the Gobi Desert is characterized by its vast area of arid and semi-arid regions, covering around 1.3 million square kilometers (500,000 square miles). While it is often thought of as a sandy desert, much of the Gobi consists of gravel plains and rocky areas with harsh climate conditions, including temperature extremes. The Gobi Desert is notable for its unique wildlife and plant life and has historical significance as part of the Silk Road trade route.