Taklamakan desert river, China, satellite image. North is at top. This is the river Yurungkax. Wet areas are dark blue, while dried areas have formed salt deposits (white) along the banks of the river. Away from the river, large sand dunes can be seen forming patterns due to the prevailing wind. The Taklamakan Desert, in Xinjiang Province, is the largest desert in China, and one of the largest in the world. Image data obtained on 5 October 1990.