In 1995 one desert in this region was crossed by roads for the first time, when a highway was built between Luntai and (*) Hotan.
In this region, the Kaidu River flows through the Iron Gate Pass into the surprisingly freshwater Bosten Lake. This region was once home to the Tocharian culture, who may be the source of the multiple blond, blue-eyed mummies discovered here. In 1995 one desert in this region was crossed by roads for the first time, when a highway was built between Luntai and (*) Hotan. In this region, the Silk Road split into a northern route that went through Turpan and two southern routes that eventually rejoined in Kashgar, which lies east of the   ► Pamirs. Its Tian Shan Mountains separate the Dzungarian Basin from the Tarim Basin, which is dominated by the Taklamakan Desert. For 10 points, name this far west Chinese autonomous region with a large Uighur population.
In this region, the Kaidu River flows through the Iron Gate Pass into the surprisingly freshwater Bosten Lake.
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region [accept Tarim Basin or Taklamakan Desert before they are mentioned]