Turfan Depression

Turpan Depression
The Turpan Depression, nestled at the foot of China’s Bogda Mountains.
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	吐魯番盆地
Simplified Chinese	吐鲁番盆地
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Tǔlǔfán Péndì
Uyghur name
Uyghur	تۇرپان ئويمانلىقى
Transcriptions Latin Yëziqi Turpan Oymanliqi Siril Yëziqi Турпан Ойманлиқи

Coordinates: 42°47′N 89°20′E / 42.78°N 89.34°E / 42.78; 89.34

The Turpan Depression or Turfan Depression is a fault-bounded trough located around and south of the city-oasis of Turpan, in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in far western China, about 150 kilometres (93 mi) southeast of the regional capital Ürümqi. It includes the fourth lowest exposed point on the Earth's surface (dry Lake Ayding, −154 metres (−505 ft)), after the Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, and Lake Assal (Djibouti). It is entirely below sea level. By some measures, it is also the hottest and driest area in China.

The Turpan Basin is a fault-bounded trough located in the eastern part of the Tian Shan. It covers an area of 50,000 square kilometres (19,000 sq mi). The surrounding mountain ranges are: the central Tian Shan in the west, the Bogda Shan in the north-west, the Haerlike Shan in the north-west, and the Jueluotage Shan in the south. Beyond the surrounding mountain ranges lie the Junggar Basin in the north and the Tarim Basin in the south.