Kyzyl Kum or Kizil Kum (both: kəzŭl´ kōōm) [Turk.,=red sand],
desert, c.115,000 sq mi (297,900 sq km), in Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan. This vast region SE of the Aral Sea between the Amu
Darya and Syr Darya rivers consists mainly of rocky areas
covered by sparse vegetation and shifting sand dunes. Cotton,
rice, and wheat are grown in river valleys and irrigated oases.
Seminomadic tribespeople raise Karakul sheep and camels. Gold
and natural gas deposits are exploited. Questia, a part of Gale,
Cengage Learning. www.questia.com Publication information:
Article title: Kyzyl Kum. Encyclopedia title: The Columbia
Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. © 2012 The Columbia Electronic
Encyclopedia © 2012, Columbia University Press. Licensed from
Columbia University Press. Used with the permission of Columbia
University Press. All Rights Reserved. Publisher: The Columbia
University Press. Place of publication: Not available.
Publication year: 2013. This material is protected by copyright
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