Xinjiang · Tarim River · Populus euphratica forest

The Tarim River, in the Uyghur language, means 'horse without reins' and 'fields, farmland'. It is located in the northern part of the Tarim Basin. Originating from the Tianshan Mountains and the Karakoram Mountains, it flows along the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, passing through the southern parts of counties (cities) such as Aksu, Shaya, Kuqa, Luntai, Korla, and Yuli, and eventually drains into Lake Taitema. The main channel of the Tarim River originally flowed into Lop Nur, but later changed its course due to the reduction of water flow and the shifting of the river channel. Before 1972, the tail water could reach Lake Taitema north of Ruoqiang County, but later the endpoint further retracted to the Daxihaizi Reservoir in Tieganlike. At the beginning of the 21st century, after the management of the entire basin began, water flow has once again reached Lake Taitema.