Which deserts cover much of Central Asia?

Approximately 60 percent of Central Asia is covered by desert land. The two principal deserts that dominate the region are:1

• Karakum Desert: This vast sandy region occupies about 70 percent of Turkmenistan. It is characterized by wind-formed sand ridges and interdune depressions known as takyr.23
• Kyzylkum Desert: Located between the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers, this desert covers much of western Uzbekistan and parts of Kazakhstan.41

Additionally, a smaller desert located in Kazakhstan near the Aral Sea is known as the Aral Karakum. These arid expanses are largely unsuitable for agriculture, except along the margins of the region's major river systems.21