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Where is the Karakum Desert located in Central Asia?
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Karakum Desert
The Caspian Sea and Karakum Desert.
The Karakum Desert is a vast sandy region located in Central Asia, occupying approximately 70 percent of the total area of Turkmenistan.1
The desert spans roughly 135,000 square miles (350,000 square km) and is defined by the following geographical boundaries:
- North: Sarykamysh Basin2
- Northeast and East: Amu Darya river valley2
- Southeast: Garabil uplands and Badkhyz steppe region2
- South and Southwest: The base of the Kopet-Dag Mountains2
- West and Northwest: The ancient valley of the Uzboy River2
The region is divided into three distinct sections: the elevated northern Trans-Unguz Karakum, the low-lying Central Karakum, and the southeastern Karakum.2