Muyunkum Desert
The Muyunkum Desert (Kazakh: Мойынқұм, Moıynqum, Russian: Мойынку́м or Муюнкум) is a desert in the Jambyl Region of southern Kazakhstan. It extends from the Chu River in the north to the Karatau Mountains and Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range in the south and east. Its altitude varies from 300m in the north to 700m in the southeast.
| Muyunkum Desert | |
|---|---|
| Мойынқұм | |
  Location in Kazakhstan | |
| Location | Kazakhstan / Kyrgyzstan |
| Coordinates | 43°53′N 71°52′E |
| Elevation | 300 meters (980 ft) to 700 meters (2,300 ft) |
| Area | 37,500 km2 (14,500 sq mi) |
Common plant types in the desert include the saksaul, milkvetch, mugwort and sedge.
Climate
The climate of the desert is continental. Temperatures drop to as low as -40 °C in January and rise to around 50 °C in July.[1]
Mining
The desert is known to harbor deposits of uranium, with the South Inkai mine of Uranium One and the Inkai Uranium Project of Cameco. The uranium mines at Tortkuduk and Muyunkum are operated by the Franco-Kazakh firm KATCO.[2]
References
- Planet, Lonely (2011-10-20). Asie Centrale - Kazakhstan (in French). Place Des Editeurs. ISBN 9782816118834.
- "The 10 biggest uranium mines in the world". Retrieved 2016-02-01.