The Tularan Plain, also known as the Tularan Lowland, is located in central Asia, stretching from Iran in the south to Kazakhstan in the north, bordered by the Pamir Plateau to the east and the coast of the Caspian Sea to the west. It covers an area of approximately 1.5 million square kilometers.
The terrain gradually flattens from east to west, with most areas having an elevation of 100 meters or less.
Characterized by its flat and low-altitude topography, the Tularan Plain has a dry climate with scarce rainfall and relatively poor vegetation cover, with much of the area covered by deserts and semi-deserts.
However, the Tularan Plain also features some oases and irrigation agriculture areas, serving as important agricultural and pastoral production bases for the local population.
Unlike other plains, the Tularan Plain has a sparse population, with approximately 8 million people, comparable to the population of a major city in China.
Despite being a plain, the Tularan Plain is home to two major deserts: the Karakum Desert and the Kyzylkum Desert, with a total area of 600,000 square kilometers, accounting for one-third of the Tularan Plain's area. Moreover, these deserts are continuously expanding.
The construction of the Karakum Canal during the Soviet era partly promoted the development of the Tularan Plain. However, the construction of this canal resulted in a reduction in the flow of the Amu Darya River into the Aral Sea, leading to the continuous shrinking of the Aral Sea.
The retreat of the Aral Sea has resulted in the extinction of a large number of wildlife species and the exposure of salt-alkaline soil at the lake bottom. Under the influence of strong winds, large amounts of salt-alkaline dust are lifted, forming salt dust storms, further exacerbating the deterioration of the ecological environment.
However, despite facing numerous challenges, the Tularan Plain has also demonstrated human adaptability to the natural environment. In some oases and irrigation agriculture areas, farmers have successfully cultivated various crops through irrigation systems and scientific farming techniques, contributing to local economic development.
Meanwhile, some research institutions and environmental organizations are actively exploring methods to protect the ecological environment of the Tularan Plain, aiming to reduce the expansion of salt-alkaline land and protect local wildlife resources.
In addition to agricultural development, the Tularan Plain also possesses abundant mineral resources such as natural gas, oil, and iron ore, providing strong support for the diversified development of the local economy.
Various governments and international organizations have also invested in infrastructure construction and environmental protection projects in the Tularan Plain region, hoping to achieve a win-win situation of economic growth and ecological balance through cooperation and innovation.
Therefore, despite facing many challenges, with the relentless efforts of humanity, it is believed that this ancient and mysterious land of the Tularan Plain will usher in a brighter future.
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