The Deserts of Dzungaria and the Tarim Basin

Abstract

The saxaul desert is the most widely distributed type in Dzungaria; it is found not only on the sandy substratum, but also occupies regions of clayey or stony hammadas, both in the east and in the west, extending from Lake Ebi-Nuur to the upper part of the UrunguChernyy Irtysh interfluve. Here two types of saxaul grow: white saxaul (Haloxylon persicum) and Zaysan saxaul (H. ammodendron). The former prefers to grow on sand, as it does in Middle Asia. Dzungaria is the extreme eastern limit of its distribution. We observed white saxaul in the Kobbe ergs at the boundary with the Suluku landmark, i.e. already in the extreme north, near the Urungu valley. It is also common in the P’ich’ang ergs (eastern part of Dzungaria), being supplemented by selin [a grass] (Aristida pennata) and in the depressions between the ridges, with tamarisk, reaumuria and winterfat.