Which Central Asian desert lies mainly between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers?

The Kyzylkum Desert lies mainly between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers in Central Asia.

The Kyzylkum occupies parts of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and, to a smaller extent, Turkmenistan. Its name means “red sands,” referring to the color of much of its sandy terrain. The landscape includes dunes, gravel plains, isolated mountains, and clay depressions rather than only loose sand.

The Amu Darya forms much of the desert’s southwestern boundary, while the Syr Darya lies to the northeast. These rivers support greener agricultural and settled areas around the desert margins, although irrigation has placed major pressure on Central Asia’s water resources.

The Kyzylkum is often confused with the Karakum Desert, which lies mainly west of the Amu Darya in Turkmenistan. Their names differ in meaning: Kyzylkum refers to red sand, while Karakum refers to black sand.