For millennia, the Taklamakan Desert in northwestern China has been one of the most feared places on Earth. Its name, in the local language, is sometimes translated as “you go in and you don’t come out.” And yet, against all odds, China has managed to establish fish farms in the heart of this hostile environment.
Water in the middle of the desert
The key to this seemingly impossible feat is underground water. Beneath the surface of the Taklamakan lies a vast aquifer, fed by snowmelt from the surrounding mountains. Chinese engineers have developed sophisticated pumping and irrigation systems to bring this water to the surface and channel it into artificial ponds.
These ponds, protected from the extreme heat by shade structures and cooling systems, now host thriving fish populations. The main species farmed include carp and tilapia, which are well-suited to the conditions.
The project is part of China’s broader strategy to develop its western regions, which have historically been less economically developed than the booming coastal areas. By turning inhospitable desert into productive farmland, Beijing aims to create jobs and economic activity in regions that desperately need both.
Critics, however, warn about the sustainability of the project. Drawing large quantities of water from underground reserves in a desert environment risks depleting aquifers that take thousands of years to replenish. The long-term environmental impact remains an open question.
