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Why is the Junggar Basin dry despite its surrounding mountains?
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Xinjiang
Pagoda close to Tian Lake, Ürümqi, Uyghur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, China.
The Junggar Basin is arid primarily because it is located far from the ocean and is enclosed by high mountain ranges, which effectively block marine climatic influences from reaching the region.1
While the surrounding mountains—such as the Altai Mountains and the Tien Shan—receive significantly higher levels of precipitation, the basin itself remains dry, receiving only about 6 to 12 inches (150 to 300 mm) of annual rainfall. This geographic isolation creates a continental, dry climate throughout Xinjiang, leaving the basin as an area of internal drainage where moisture is largely prevented from penetrating the interior.12