The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Qaidam
(ch-däm) (KEY) or Tsaidam (ts´däm, ch-däm) (KEY) , arid basin, c.350 mi (560 km) long and c.100 mi (160 km) wide, between two branches of the Kunlun range, central Qinghai prov., W China. A salt marsh occupies most of the area. Oil fields and refineries are found in W Qaidam, and iron ore is mined in the southern part.