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Why can melons and grapes grow in some Karakum Desert depressions?
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Karakum Desert
The Caspian Sea and Karakum Desert.
In the Karakum Desert, melons and grapes can be grown in certain areas due to the presence of numerous interdune depressions known as takyr. These depressions are covered by thick clay deposits that function as catchment basins for the region's scanty precipitation. The water collected in these basins provides the necessary moisture to support the cultivation of these fruits.1