Xinjiang, located in the northwest of China, is the largest administrative region in the country, surrounded by plateaus and high mountain ranges, including the Kunlun Mountains and the Tian Shan Mountains. The Tian Shan Mountains are particularly notable in the Xinjiang basin, as well as in the southern Tarim Basin.
The Taklimakan Desert is the largest desert in China.
The northwest region is generally arid, with high temperatures year-round and almost no rainfall. However, several oases exist amidst this arid environment, formed naturally. As a result, many unique natural phenomena remain unexplored. Xinjiang, a parched desert region, has revealed an “underground ocean” with water reserves equivalent to eight Yangtze Rivers, which can be considered a “miracle of China.”
There are many distinctive areas in Xinjiang, one of which is the Taklimakan Desert, the tenth largest desert in the world and the largest in China. Winds blow year-round, shaping the sand dunes in their direction.
Consequently, the Taklimakan Desert has very little water, and any that exists evaporates instantly. Yet, seemingly impossibly, there is an underground ocean, with studies by experts indicating that the water volume could match that of eight Yangtze Rivers.
It is clear that the harsh, arid environment exists above ground, yet beneath lies the equivalent of “eight Yangtze Rivers.” The shifting sand dunes prevent travel across the surface, raising questions about how such an “underground ocean” could exist. Researchers still do not have answers, as there remain many unexplored wonders of nature.
The Taklimakan Desert has almost no water, and any that exists evaporates immediately.
Located in the Taklimakan Desert in Xinjiang, Zongjing is a very dense lake, but due to natural changes and human destruction, along with other factors, the terrain here is no longer evenly distributed. Mountains, rivers, and basins are interspersed, making travel difficult, and all water has either been depleted or evaporated. Additionally, there is the question of why such abundant underground water in the Taklimakan Desert is not being exploited. If utilized, the desert could return to its former state, potentially supporting lush vegetation and creating vast oases.
However, there is a hypothesis that even if the water were to be exploited, it would still evaporate due to the heat of the Taklimakan Desert, which would severely impact the current terrain. Moreover, the underground ocean contains saline water, which would pose risks to humans, coupled with the challenging extraction environment due to extreme weather conditions.
