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The Karakum Desert, also spelled Kara-Kum and Gara Gum (“Black Sand”) (Turkmen: Garagum, Russian: Каракумы) is a desert in Central Asia. It occupies about 70 percent, or 350,000 km², of the area of Turkmenistan. Karakum Desert -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia. www.britannica.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-22.
The population is sparse, with an average of one person per 6.5 km² (one person per 2.5 sq miles).
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It lies east of the Caspian Sea, with the Aral Sea to the north and the Amu Darya river and the Kyzyl Kum desert to the northeast.
To the south the Murghab and Tejen rivers flow out of the Hindu Kush Mountains, flow west, and empty into the desert, providing water for irrigation.
The desert is crossed by the largest irrigation canal in the world, the Qaraqum Canal. The canal was started in 1954, is 1,375 km in length, and carries 13-20 km³ of water annually. Unfortunately, leakages from the canal have created lakes and ponds along the canal and the rise in groundwater has caused widespread soil salination.
Within the Karakum are the Bolsoi (Big) Balkan, a mountain range in which archaeologists have found human remains dating back to the Stone Age.
The oases of Mary and Tejen are noted for cotton growing.
The Karakum Desert is home to the Darwasa Gas Craters.
The area has significant oil and natural gas deposits.
The desert is crossed by the Trans-Caspian railway.
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