Senast uppdaterad i april 1, 2024
The Taklamakan Desert is considered one of the most dangerous deserts in the world due to several factors that make it extremely hostile to travelers.
This unforgiving place is known for its high temperatures in the summer and freezing temperatures in the winter, making survival challenging.
The desert’s shifting sand dunes pose a significant risk as they can make navigation difficult, leading to travelers getting lost.
If that isn’t enough, the lack of vegetation, minimal rainfall, and common sandstorms in the Taklamakan Desert have claimed the lives of many people, contributing to its reputation as a dangerous environment.
The name “Taklamakan” itself translates to “Place of No Return” or “the abandoned place,” emphasizing the perilous nature of this vast desert.
The Taklamakan Desert: A Place of No Return
The Taklamakan Desert is sited in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, is one of the largest sandy deserts in the world.
Its name, which translates to “Place of No Return” or “the abandoned place,” is a testament to its perilous nature.
This vast desert is often considered one of the most dangerous places on Earth due to a combination of factors that make it extremely hostile to travelers.
| Taklamakanöknen | |
|---|---|
| Beskrivning | Desert in Southwestern Xinjiang, Kina |
| Plats | Southwestern Xinjiang, Northwest China |
| Område | 337,000 kvadratkilometer (130,000 kvm mi) |
| Surrounding Features | Bounded by Kunlun Mountains, Pamir Mountains, Tian Shan range, and the Gobi Desert |
| Koordinater | 38°54′N 82°12′E |
| Country | Kina |
| State/Province | Xinjiang |
A hostile environment
The Taklamakan Desert is far from any ocean, enduring an extreme dry continental climate.
It experiences high temperatures in the summer and freezing temperatures in the winter.
This extreme climate, coupled with the desert’s lack of vegetation and minimal rainfall, make survival challenging.
Handla om 85% of the Taklamakan consists of shifting sand dunes, some of which soar up to 200 till 300 meter på höjden.
These shifting dunes can make navigation difficult, leading to travelers getting lost.
The desert is also prone to massive dust storms.
Dust storms can lead to public health problems in populated areas downwind by transporting small particles, bakterie, and viruses that infiltrate human respiratory systems.
Historical Significance
The Taklamakan Desert is part of the Tarim Basin, vilket är 1,000 kilometers long and 400 kilometers wide.
It is crossed at its northern and at its southern edge by two branches of the Silk Road, by which travelers sought to avoid the arid wasteland.
The desert was formed as a response to a combination of widespread regional aridification due to the rain shadow effect and increased erosion in the surrounding mountain fronts, both of which are closely linked to the tectonic uplift of the Tibetan-Pamir Plateau and Tian Shan.
The Most Dangerous Desert?
While the Taklamakan Desert is indeed a dangerous environment due to the reasons mentioned above, the claim that it is the “most dangerous desert on Earth” might be subjective as there are other deserts on Earth that could also be considered extremely dangerous due to various factors.
De Sahara öknen, världens största heta öken, is not only dangerous due to its extreme temperatures and lack of water, but also due to the presence of criminal activity and widespread human trafficking.
The region has been described as a crisis zone, with residents falling prey to chronic insecurity, conflict, and the rise of criminal and terrorist networks.
Trafficking in the Sahel, which includes parts of the Sahara, involves a wide range of contraband goods, from fake medicines to firearms.
Human trafficking is a significant issue, with fewer victims being identified even as crises increase vulnerabilities to exploitation.
Å andra sidan, Antarktis, den kallaste öknen på jorden, poses a different set of dangers.
Apart from the extreme cold, torr, and windy conditions, it has the highest amount of recorded shipwrecks and deadly accidents.
The list of disasters in Antarctica includes numerous shipwrecks and aircraft crashes, resulting in many fatalities.
The harsh and unpredictable weather conditions, along with the icy waters surrounding the continent, make any form of travel extremely risky.
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