ERPH 2027

Tarim

Located in southern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the Tarim Basin is China's largest inland basin, surrounded by the Tianshan, Kunlun and Altun Mountains. Encompassing vast desert, Gobi and scattered oases, it sits deep in the Eurasian hinterland with a warmtemperate arid continental climate, marked by scarce rainfall, strong evaporation and sharp daynight temperature differences. At its heart lies the Taklamakan Desert, the world's secondlargest shifting desert. Fed by glacier meltwater from surrounding mountains, the Tarim River-China's longest inland river-winds across the northern basin, sustaining oasis ecosystems and diverse ethnic communities. As a vital segment of the ancient Silk Road, this region witnessed frequent cultural exchanges between East and West. Today it blends unique desert ecology, multiethnic folk customs and rich historical heritage, offering exceptional conditions for scientific research on environment, publichealth and ecological risk assessment.