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Why is the Tarim Basin extremely dry?
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Xinjiang
Pagoda close to Tian Lake, ĂrĂŒmqi, Uyghur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, China.
The Tarim Basin is extremely dry primarily because it is enclosed by high mountain rangesâincluding the Tien Shan to the north, the Pamirs to the west, and the Kunlun Mountains to the southâwhich effectively block moist air from reaching the region from the sea.12
Furthermore, the basin is located at a great distance from the ocean, which cuts it off from marine climatic influences. As a result of this isolation, the region experiences a continental, dry climate with annual rainfall typically measuring less than 4 inches (100 mm).31