Moiynkum Desert
{{Short description|Desert in Kazakhstan}}
{{Infobox landform
| name = Moiynkum
| other_name = Мойынқұм
| type = Desert
| photo = Река Чу - panoramio.jpg
| caption = View of the Chu river at the edge of the desert
| coordinates= {{coord|43|53|N|71|52|E|type:landform|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{Convert|37500|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| part_of = Turkistan and Zhambyl regions
| elevation = {{convert|300|m|sp=us}} to {{convert|700|m|sp=us}}
| map = Kazakhstan
| map_caption = Location in Kazakhstan
| relief = 1
| location = Kazakhstan / Kyrgyzstan
}}
The Moiynkum Desert ({{langx|kk|Мойынқұм}}, Moiynqūm), is a desert in the Turkistan and Zhambyl regions of southern Kazakhstan.
Common plant types in the desert include saksaul, milkvetch, mugwort and sedge. The Andasay State Nature Reserve is a {{convert|1000000|ha|sp=us}} protected area that was established in 1966.[https://silkadv.com/en/content/andasay-zoological-reserve Andasay Zoological Reserve]
Geography
The Moiynkum Desert is limited by the Chu River to the north and east and the Karatau and Kyrgyz Ala-Too mountain ranges to the south and southeast. Its elevation ranges from {{convert|300|m|sp=us}} in the northern sector to {{convert|700|m|sp=us}} in the southeast. River Chu flows at the northern edge of the desert, with lakes Kokuydynkol and Zhalanash close to the left side of its channel. In wet years the Chu may reach the endorheic salt lake Akzhaykyn in the Ashchykol Depression, at the western end of the desert. The Akzhar lake group is located in the southern area.[http://bse.sci-lib.com/article079334.html Муюнкум]; Great Soviet Encyclopedia in 30 vols. — Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M. Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978. (in Russian){{cite web|url=https://maps.vlasenko.net/smtm1000/k-42.jpg|title=K-42 Topographic Chart (in Russian)|access-date=5 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://maps.vlasenko.net/smtm1000/l-42.jpg|title=L-42 Topographic Chart (in Russian)|access-date=5 November 2022}}
Climate
The climate of the desert is continental. Temperatures drop as low as {{convert|-40|°C|-1}} in January and rise to around {{convert|50|°C|-1}} in July.{{Cite book|title = Asie Centrale - Kazakhstan|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Vn7x4O15-4YC|publisher = Place Des Editeurs|date = 2011-10-20|isbn = 9782816118834|language = fr|author= Lonely Planet}}
Mining
The desert is known to harbor deposits of uranium, with the South Inkai mine of Uranium One, the tenth largest uranium producing mine in the world, and the Inkai Uranium Project of Cameco. The uranium mines at Tortkuduk and Moiynkum are operated by the Franco-Kazakh firm KATCO.{{Cite web|title = The 10 biggest uranium mines in the world| date=3 November 2013 |url = http://www.mining-technology.com/features/feature-the-10-biggest-uranium-mines-in-the-world/|access-date = 2016-02-01}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commonscat-inline|Moiynkum}}
- [https://wildticketasia.com/999-andasay-nature-reserve-jambyl-region-kazakhstan.html Андасайский заказник]
- [https://zoinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Chu_Talas_poster.pdf Chu-Talas, Kazakhstan]
{{Deserts}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Deserts of Central Asia
Category:Deserts of Kazakhstan