Karakum Desert

For the desert in Kazakhstan, see Aral Karakum.

Not to be confused with Karakorum or Karakoram.

The Karakum Desert, also spelled Kara-Kum and Gara-Gum (Turkmen: Garagum, pronounced [ɡaɾaˈɡum]; Russian: Караку́мы, tr. Karakumy; IPA: [kərɐˈkumɨ]; Kazakh: Қарақұм), is a desert in Central Asia. Its name means Black Sand in Turkic languages. It occupies about 70 percent, or 350,000 km², of the area of Turkmenistan.

The population is sparse, with an average of one person per 6.5 km² (one person per 2.5 square miles). Rainfall is also sparse, ranging from 70 to 150 mm.^[1]

Location

Covering much of present-day Turkmenistan, the Karakum Desert lies east of the Caspian Sea, with the Aral Sea to the north and the Amu Darya river and the Kyzyl Kum desert to the northeast. In modern times, with the shrinking of the Aral Sea, the extended "Aral Karakum" has appeared on the former seabed, with an estimated area of 15,440 sq mi/40,000 km². Although the level of the Aral Sea has fluctuated over its existence, the most recent level drop was caused by the former Soviet Union building massive irrigation projects in the region. Although the North Aral Sea is currently rising, the South Aral Sea is still dropping, thus expanding the size of the desert.^[2]

The sands of the Aral Karakum are made up of a salt-marsh consisting of finely-dispersed evaporites and remnants of alkaline mineral deposits, washed into the basin from irrigated fields. The dust blown on a full east-west airstream carry pesticide residues that have been found in the blood of penguins in Antarctica. Aral dust has also been found in the glaciers of Greenland, the forests of Norway and the fields of Russia.

Hydrography

To the south the Murghab and Tejen rivers flow out of the Hindu Kush Mountains, flow west, and empty into the desert, providing water for irrigation.

The desert is crossed by the second largest irrigation canal in the world, the Kara Kum Canal. The canal was started in 1954, is 1,375 km in length, and carries 13-20 km³ of water annually. Leakages from the canal have created lakes and ponds along the canal and the rise in groundwater has caused widespread soil salination.

Archaeology

Within the Karakum are the Bolshoi (Big) Balkan, a mountain range in which archaeologists have found human remains dating back to the Stone Age.

Economy and resources

The oases of Mary and Tejen are noted for cotton growing.

Geology

The Karakum Desert is home to the Darvaza Gas Crater. 40°15′08.40″N 58°26′23.10″E / 40.2523333°N 58.4397500°E / 40.2523333; 58.4397500

The area has significant oil and natural gas deposits.

Transport

The desert is crossed by the Trans-Caspian Railway.

Notes

↑ "Karakum Desert -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
↑ Aral Sea

External links

Coordinates: 40°30′N 60°00′E / 40.500°N 60.000°E / 40.500; 60.000

World deserts

Desert Desertification List of deserts List of deserts by area

Africa	Algerian Bayuda Blue Chalbi Danakil Djurab Eastern Ferlo Farafra (White) Kalahari Libyan Moçâmedes Namib Nubian Nyiri Owami Richtersveld Sahara Tanezrouft Ténéré

Asia	Ad-Dahna Akshi Arabian Aral Karakum Aralkum Badain Jaran Betpak-Dala Cholistan Dasht-e Kavir Dasht-e Khash Dasht-e Leili Dasht-e Loot Dasht-e Margo Dasht-e Naomid Gurbantünggüt Gobi Hami Indus Valley Judaean Karakum Kharan Kumtag Kyzylkum Liwa Lop Maranjab Muyunkum Nefud Negev Ordos Qaidam Ramlat al-Sab'atayn Rub' al Khali Russian Arctic Registan Saryesik-Atyrau Syrian Taklamakan Tengger Thal Thar Ustyurt Plateau Wahiba Sands

Australia	Gibson Great Sandy Great Victoria Little Sandy Nullarbor Plain Painted Pedirka Simpson Strzelecki Sturt's Stony Tanami Tirari

Europe	Accona Bardenas Reales Błędów Cabo de Gata Deliblatska Peščara Hálendi Monegros Oleshky Oltenian Sahara Ryn Stranja Tabernas

North America	Alvord Amargosa Baja California Black Rock Carcross Carson Channeled scablands Chihuahuan Colorado Escalante Forty Mile Gran Desierto de Altar Great Basin Great Salt Lake Great Sandy Jornada del Muerto Kaʻū Lechuguilla Mojave North American Arctic Owyhee Painted Desert Red Desert Sevier Smoke Creek Sonoran Tule (Arizona) Tule (Nevada) Yp Yuha Yuma

South America	Atacama La Guajira Los Médanos de Coro Monte Patagonian Sechura Tatacoa

Oceania	Zealandia: Rangipo Desert

Polar regions	Antarctica Arctic Greenland North American Arctic Russian Arctic

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