Qyzylqum.
Qyzylqum.
The Qyzilqum (Uzbek: red sand; also called
Kyzil Kum) is one of the largest
deserts in the world. It is located at the country between two rivers
Amu Darya and
Sirdarya, in
Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan and partially
Turkmenistan. It covers about 298,000 sq km (approximately 115,000 sq mi), making it the 11th largest desert in the world.
The territory is mainly the plain (height up to 300 м (about 984 feet) above
sea level) with a number of the secluded lowlands and highlands (Sultanuizdag, Bukantau). Most of the area bespread with the sand-dunes (barkhans); in northwest the large areas are covered with takirs (clay coatings); there are also some oases. There are
agricultural settlements along the
rivers and
oases. The local population use large spaces of Kyzil Kum as a pasture for livestock (mostly
sheep,
camels and
dromedaries).
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