The Chinese Realm:
Regions -Xinjiang

• Physical
• Cultural
• Historical
• Economic

Physical

• sparsely populated: only 17 million people [checumene] [eapopden]
• large area (1/6 of China) [regions]
• borders 7 countries
• 2 mountains [chmtn]
• 2 basins [chbaspla]
• Arid China - dry [chregphy] [chclimat] [eaprecip]

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Cultural

• many minorities /1/3 Chinese [chethnic]
• largest Autonomous Region [chautreg]
• largely Islamic [nwmslwor] [chpeo]
• cultural ties to Turkestan in the west [nwregtur] [chethnic]

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Historical

• ancient east-west trade route (Silk Road)
• settled by Muslims [nwmslwor]

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Economic

• oil in Junggar and Tarim Basins [chbaspla]
• oasis farming, expanding irrigation [chagric]
• some nomadism
• location of China's space and nuclear programs

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