Taklamakan Desert of water, accounts for the somewhat wide diurnal temperature variation. The Taklamakan Desert has very little water, therefore it is hazardous to cross. Merchant caravans on the Silk Road would stop for relief at the thriving oasis towns. It was in close proximity to many of the ancient civilizations — to the Northwest is the Amu Darya basin, to the southwest the Afghanistan mountain passes lead to Iran and India, to the east is China, and even to the north ancient towns such as Almaty can be found. The key oasis towns, watered by rainfall from the mountains, were Kashgar,
Wild in the Country (festival) line-up for the 2008 edition which was cancelled two days before it was due to begin was: Wild in the Country (festival) Wild in the Country was a music festival organised by record label Renaissance and held from 2004 to 2007. The first Wild in the Country event was held at Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire, England on 1 May 2004. Acts who appeared at the first event were Scissor Sisters, Sasha & John Digweed, Dave Seaman, James Zabiela, Derrick Carter, Yousef, Infusion, Neneh Cherry, Jon Carter and Audio Bullies. Gigwise.com describes Wild in the Country as "the ideal festival for