Taklamakan Desert
Taklamakan Desert is one of the world’s largest sand deserts, known for extreme climate, shifting dunes, and remoteness within Xinjiang, China. It forms the heart of the Tarim Basin.
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Geography
| Continent | Asia |
|---|---|
| Region | Western China |
| Subregion | Central Asia |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| State | Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region |
| County | Tarim Basin |
| District | Taklamakan Desert |
| Timezone | AsiaUrumqi |
| Latitude | 37 |
| Longitude | 87 |
| Maps |
1:56 AM LOCAL TIMETaklamakan Desert sprawls across more than 337,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of Germany, and is often cited as one of the most inhospitable and arid places on Earth. The desert is encircled by towering mountain ranges: the Tian Shan to the northwest and the Kunlun to the south, acting as watershed divides and heavily influencing its extreme temperature fluctuations and absence of perennial surface water. Dominated by blowing sand, persistent dust storms, and vast, silent plains, the Taklamakan exhibits some of the highest sand dune ridges and lowest elevation in wind-swept Central Asia. Traditionally a major route along the Silk Road, routes crossing the Taklamakan are now infrequently traversed and require careful planning. Despite the harsh conditions, the desert is a focus for geological and archaeological research, revealing millennia of Quaternary history and ancient settlements at its margins. Travelers seeking to experience the scale and solitude of the Taklamakan should prepare for extreme temperatures, rapid weather changes, and very limited services or shelter across many areas.
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