Lop Nur

geographical name

ˈlȯp-ˈnu̇r 

large lake bed in a barren area of east central Xinjiang Uygur, western China, that was left mostly dry following the impoundment and diversion of water from its primary source, the Tarim River, for irrigation

Note: The area was used as a test site for nuclear weapons from 1964 to 1996.