Lop Nur

Lop Nur is a large salt lake located in the remote desert region of Xinjiang, China. Historically, it was a lush, freshwater lake but gradually dried up over centuries, leaving a vast, arid salt flat. Today, it's mostly a desolate, barren landscape with salt deposits and remnants of ancient civilizations nearby. The area gained international attention for China's nuclear testing from the 1950s to the 1990s, and it remains a symbol of China's military and scientific activities. Despite its inhospitable environment, Lop Nur holds significant archaeological and geopolitical importance.