Sands of Despair

In the middle of the Plains of Despair (thus the middle of continental Malatoria) are the Sands of Despair, a small desert of shifting sands and intense sun.  The Sands are a completely unnatural geological phenomenon, the result of intense magics gone horribly wrong.  For centuries the sands were slowly growing, minute by minute, and engulfing more of the surrounding Plains before a group of adventurers sealed up a magic portal and stopped the desert's progress. 
Strangely, not only does the unnatural sand occupy the plain, but from underneath a number of canyon like rocky outcroppings protrude, adding to the alien environment.  The Sands are home to a number of monster not found anywhere else in Malatoria.
Hidden in the Sands are a few desert oases that have served as base camps for bandits and evil humanoids.

Geography

Sandy dunes broken up by towers of red and brown rock.

Type

Desert