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Why does the Tarim River change its channels and banks?

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Map of Asia highlighting the location of the Takla Makan Desert in northwestern China, with the desert area shaded in orange. Surrounding regions, including parts of Europe, Africa, and the Pacific Ocean, are shown for geographic context. An inset in the top right corner provides a global view with the desert's location marked. — Takla Makan Desert The Takla Makan Desert is flanked by high mountain ranges: the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west.

The Tarim River is characterized by its active migration, which refers to the frequent shifting of its beds and banks as it traverses the Takla Makan Desert. This phenomenon occurs because a significant portion of the river's course is unformed, meaning it does not follow a clearly defined riverbed through the desert sands.1

This hydrographic instability is a common feature of rivers that flow through the sands of the Takla Makan, where the riverbanks often become undifferentiable from the surrounding desert landscape.1