Taklamakan, Desert in Xinjiang Region, China.
Taklamakan is a desert in the Xinjiang autonomous region of northwestern China, framed by the Kunlun Mountains to the south, the Tian Shan to the north and the Pamir to the west. Sand formations and scattered oases define the wide terrain, which extends over several hundred kilometers and belongs to the driest areas of Central Asia.
Silk Road caravans avoided the center and moved along oasis cities such as Kashgar, Yarkand, Miran and Khotan at the desert's edge. These settlements served as supply points for traders traveling between East and West.
The name means roughly
Ring roads and a railway line connect settlements at the desert's edge and enable crossing without entering the sand area directly. Anyone wishing to enter the desert itself should expect extreme dryness and learn about water sources and navigation beforehand.
In 2008 a snow cover of almost 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) fell over the entire area for the first time, something never documented before in this dry region. This unusual precipitation surprised locals and researchers alike.
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