How did the Karakum Desert form after the ancient sea disappeared?

Approximately 30 million years ago, the region now known as the Karakum Desert was submerged under the sea. The desert formed following the disappearance of this sea, which was driven by orogenic (mountain-building) processes in the southern part of the Turan Plain.1

After the sea receded, the Amu Darya river flowed across the region, depositing vast quantities of alluvial sediments, primarily sand and clay, which originated from mountains to the southeast. Once the Amu Darya shifted its course northward to drain into the Aral Sea, the landscape was primarily shaped by eolian (wind-driven) processes. These wind-based forces continue to define the desert's diverse landforms today.1