Most of the desert was formed by sandy deposits from a river called the Amu Darya. Karakum's terrain includes flat clay plains, salt basins, and sand mounds. Short-lived bushes and grassy plants sprout in the spring. Wildlife includes antelopes, wolves, wildcats, snakes, lizards, tarantulas, scorpions, and various rodents. Most of the desert is used throughout the year as pasture for sheep, goats, and camels.
Farmers grow crops in irrigated oases along rivers.
Karakum Canal provides water for one of the world's largest irrigation systems. Karakum's mineral resources include natural gas, petroleum, and sulfur. Leszek A. Kosinski, Ph.D., Professor of Geography, Univ. of Alberta. How to cite this article.