Lop Desert

The Lop Desert spans 50,000 square kilometers of flat terrain with clay deposits, sand formations, and dried lake basins in northwestern China.

Ancient settlements along the Silk Road flourished near water sources in the Lop Desert, including the lost city of Loulan during the Han Dynasty.

Multiple ethnic groups from Central Asia established trade networks through the Lop Desert, leaving traces of Tocharian and Buddhist influences across the region.

Extreme temperature variations and minimal rainfall below 20 millimeters annually make expeditions into the Lop Desert require extensive preparation and local guidance.

The Lop Desert contains geological formations called yardangs, created by wind erosion that carved parallel furrows through the desert surface.

Location: Xinjiang

GPS coordinates: 40.16667,90.58333

Latest update: May 17, 2025 10:20