How does the Gobi Desert connect to the Tarim Basin and the Takla Makan Desert?

The Gobi Desert and the Tarim Basin are distinct arid regions in Central Asia, separated by geography rather than being directly connected as a single continuous landscape.

The Gobi Desert is situated to the east, bounded by the eastern Tien Shan mountains at its western limit. Beyond this western boundary lies the Tarim Basin, a separate arid expanse located in the southern portion of the Xinjiang region.1

The Tarim Basin itself encompasses the Takla Makan Desert, which is geographically enclosed by the Tien Shan ranges to the north and the Kunlun and western Altun mountains to the south. While both regions are part of the broader arid environment of Central Asia, they are defined by different mountain systems and distinct topographical features.12