Muiunkum

(also Muyun-Kum), a sandy desert in the southern Kazakh SSR between the Karatau and Kirghiz ranges in the south and the lower course of the Chu River in the north. It is located at elevations ranging from 300 m in the north to 700 m in the southeast. The desert was formed by Cretaceous sands from the sea and fluvial deposits from the Chu. Partially overgrown sands predominate; the sands are deeply dissected and their relief varies considerably. There are also partially denuded barchans. The annual precipitation is 150–200 mm, most of which falls in the spring. The average temperature in January ranges from —6° to —9.6°C; the average temperature in July is about 26°C. The saxaul Haloxylon persicum, milk vetch, wormwood, and the sedge Carex arenaria grow in the high sands. Calligonum and wheat grass are found in the low areas. The Muiunkum is used chiefly as a winter pasture. Those areas with groundwater close to the surface are cultivated.