Taklamakan Desert

Photo

by Hiroki Ogawa

/ CC BY 3.0

The Taklamakan Desert, located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, is one of the largest sand deserts in the world. Encompassing an area of approximately 337,000 square kilometers, it is known for its harsh climate and shifting sand dunes, some of which can reach heights of up to 300 meters. The desert is bounded by the Kunlun Mountains to the south, the Pamir Mountains to the west, and the Tianshan Mountains to the north. Despite its extreme conditions, the Taklamakan Desert has a rich history, having been a crucial part of the Silk Road trade routes that connected ancient China with the West.