While stabilized and semistabilized sand dunes prevail in the desert in the Dzungarian Basin, shifting dunes are the rule in this desert, intermittently distributed along both the south and north banks of the O-erh-ch'i-szu Ho [translating 額爾齊斯河 /额尔齐斯河 (É'ěrqísī)] in the northwestern part of the basin. Lying under these dunes are the sloping diluvial terraces and undulating slopes of the mountain bases. Due to its high elevation and its being situated in the river valley between the Sa-wu-erh and A-erh-t'ai mountain ranges, gale force wind penetrates the region in winter and little snow is accumulated.
Source: wiktionary