How did the Amu Darya River help create the sands of the Karakum Desert?

The Amu Darya River played a fundamental role in the formation of the Karakum Desert by depositing vast quantities of alluvial sediments across the region.

Following the disappearance of the sea that once covered the area, the Amu Darya flowed across the Karakum, frequently shifting its riverbed over time. During this process, it transported and deposited large amounts of sand and clay. These deposits included approximately 40 different minerals that were carried down from the mountains located to the southeast.

Once the river eventually changed its course to flow northward toward the Aral Sea, the surface of the desert was further shaped by eolian (wind-driven) processes, which helped create the diverse landforms seen in the region today.1