Aral Karakum is a
desert in
Kazakhstan, situated northeast of the
Aral Sea. It borders on the
Syr Darya river to the south. The desert covers an area of 40,000&_160;km².
The landscape in the region is quite flat, with a height that varies from 55 to 118&_160;meters AMSL. The dunes can reach heights of around 25&_160;meters. The area is very dry, and the dried-out riverbeds usually only carry water during springtime, when the winter snow melts. Annual precipitation is around 120&_160;mm.
The winter lasts from mid-November to mid-March, with varying cloud cover and frequent fog. Mean temperature during daytime is minus 5-10&_160;°C, and at night around -25&_160;°C. The lowest recorded temperature is -42&_160;°C. However, at any time during winter, mild weather is possible. Precipitation falls mostly in the winter as snow. Snow cover is usually around 15&_160;cm deep, but can reach 30&_160;cm.
Summer lasts from May to mid-September. Daytime temperatures normally range 30-35&_160;°C, but temperatures up to 43&_160;°C have been recorded. At night the temperature drops to 15-18&_160;°C. During summer there are often dry winds and dust storms.
