Sam

The Sam sands spread across the northwestern Ustyurt, near the approaches to Beyneu. This is a dry country of dunes and low hollows, between the Caspian lowlands and the plateau's escarpments. Ustyurt's broad uplands are punctuated by salt marshes and enclosed depressions, while its steep edges rise above the plains. The sandy region forms part of the open pastoral country through which routes ran between Mangyshlak, Khwarazm and the northern steppe.