Kyzylkum desert

Kyzylkum
Desert
Kyzylkum south of Dzhangeldy, Uzbekistan.
Countries	Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan
Region	Central Asia
Coordinates	42°26′28″N 63°27′41″E / 42.44111°N 63.46139°E / 42.44111; 63.46139Coordinates: 42°26′28″N 63°27′41″E / 42.44111°N 63.46139°E / 42.44111; 63.46139
Highest point
- elevation	300 m (984 ft)
Area	298,000 km2 (115,058 sq mi)
Satellite image of the Kyzylkum Desert by NASA World Wind
Website: Embassy of Uzbekistan to the U.S.

The Kyzylkum Desert (Uzbek: Qizilqum/Қизилқум, قىزىلقۇم; Kazakh: Қызылқұм/Qızılqum, قىزىلقۇم), also spelled Qyzylqum, is the 16th largest desert in the world. Its name means Red Sand in Turkic languages. It is located in Central Asia in the doab between the rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya, a region historically known as Transoxania or Sogdiana. Today it is divided between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. It covers about 298,000 km² (115,000 sq mi).

The territory consists mainly of an extensive plain at an altitude up to 300 m (980 ft) above sea level, with a number of depressions and highlands (Sultanuizdag, Bukantau). Most of the area is covered with sand dunes (barchans); in the northwest large areas are covered with takirs (clay coatings); there are also some oases. There are agricultural settlements along the rivers and in the oases. Temperatures can be very high during the summer months, from mid-May to mid-September. Kerki, one extreme inland city located on the banks of the Amu Darya River, recorded 51.7 °C (125.1 °F) in July 1983.

Desert fauna include the Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) and a large lizard known as the Transcaspian or Desert Monitor (Varanus griseus), which can reach lengths of 1.6 m (5.2 ft). The Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica) also occasionally migrates through the northern part of the desert.