The Turkestan Desert

The Turkestan Desert

The Turkestan Desert covers a large part of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is made up of 2 desert areas ... Kara Kum and Kyzyl Kum.

The Kyzyl Kum Desert (Uzbekistan) covers 88,000 square miles (228,000 square kilometers) and is made up of low mountain ranges and sand dunes. The Kara Kum Desert (Turkmenistan) covers 135,000 square miles (350,000 square kilometers) and is made up of plains, salt basins, and sand dunes.

Although both desert areas have been irrigated, few people live there. Those who do are there to mine for natural gas, petroleum, and sulfur.