The Creation of the Karakum Desert
According to Turkmen legend, the Karakum ('Black Sands') Desert was created by a battle between good and evil forces. The devil challenged the creator god to a contest — who could cover more land in one night. The creator god began covering the land with fertile soil, but the devil raised giant sandstorms. The creator god, realizing the devil's trick, scattered black stones across the sand to stop his advance. These stones became the desert's namesake 'black sands.' Another legend says that a giant serpent slept beneath the land, and when it turned in its sleep, it churned the earth into sand.