Dzungaria

Dzungaria (also spelled Jungaria or Zungaria) is a geographical subregion of Northwest China, corresponding roughly to the northern half of Xinjiang. It is bounded by the Altai Mountains to the north, the Tian Shan (Tian Mountains) to the south, and the Gobi Desert to the east. Dzungaria is distinct from the Tarim Basin, which comprises the southern half of Xinjiang and is separated from Dzungaria by the Tian Shan range.

Historically, Dzungaria was home to the Dzungar people, a western Mongolian group who formed the Dzungar Khanate in the 17th and 18th centuries. This Khanate controlled a large territory encompassing not only Dzungaria but also parts of present-day Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Siberia. The Dzungar Khanate was a major power in Central Asia, frequently clashing with the Qing Dynasty of China.

In the mid-18th century, the Qing Dynasty launched a series of military campaigns against the Dzungar Khanate, ultimately leading to its destruction and the incorporation of Dzungaria into the Qing Empire. The Qing subsequently resettled the region with Han Chinese, Hui, Uyghur, and other ethnic groups, drastically altering its demographics.

Today, Dzungaria is a sparsely populated region characterized by its semi-arid to arid climate, vast grasslands, and significant mineral resources, including oil and coal. Agriculture is practiced in areas where irrigation is possible. The region plays a significant role in China's energy production and transportation infrastructure, including pipelines connecting Central Asia to China.

The term "Dzungaria" is also used in biogeography to refer to a floristic region encompassing the mountains and steppes of Central Asia, reflecting the historical geographical boundaries associated with the Dzungar people and their territory.