The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/palmerry on 2025-01-22 14:08:19.

Original Title: TIL of the Turpan water system, an ancient network of thousands of hand dug wells and 5000 km of underground canals built under the Taklaman desert to channel groundwater to the Oasis city of Turpan, used to irrigate agriculture and provide water to the many caravans traveling the Silk Road.