Lop Nur

[ lawp noor ]

noun

1. a series of salt lakes and marshes in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in northwestern China: nuclear test site.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lop Nur¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Mongolian: literally, “Lop Lake” ( Lop being a toponym of unknown origin), or from Uyghur Lop Nur “Bright Lake”

Example Sentences

Nationwide, underground complexes provide the military with more than 3,000 miles of tunnels, rail lines and factories spread out across China, including the rebuilt weapons complex in Sichuan; another facility at Lop Nur, the Chinese nuclear testing site in Tibet; and at several other sites in the northeast, northwest and southeast parts of the country.

From Washington Times

McDowell says satellite sensing shows the spacecraft gliding and performing a runway landing at the Lop Nur military base in China’s northwest Xinjiang region, suggesting that it is a plane.

From Scientific American

These included the flourishing Loulan kingdom on vast Lake Lop Nur, before its water evaporated in the 5th century.

From Washington Times

“In recent years, China’s possible preparation to operate its Lop Nur test site year-round and lack of transparency on its nuclear testing activities have raised concerns regarding its adherence to the U.S. zero-yield standard,” the report said.

From Washington Times

“China continued work at its Lop Nur nuclear weapons test site throughout 2020.”

From Washington Times