Aral Sea

History

The Aral Sea has two rivers that flow into it – Amu Darya and Sir Darya, known in ancient times as the Oxus and Jaxartes respectively. The Soviet Union dug channels from both rivers for the cotton fields; this was the beginning of the disaster.

Some time around 1960, the Aral Sea started shrinking. In 1986, with the falling sea level, the former sea divided into two separate parts: the North Aral Sea in Kazakhstan, and the South Aral Sea mainly in Uzbekistan. Thanks to a dyke built in 2005 between the two parts by the Kazakhs, who are more prosperous and less dependent on agricultural irrigation than their southern neighbours, the northern part somewhat stabilized, or even regained some of its lost territory as much as to allow some low-scale commercial fishing, but is still a far cry from its former self. The southern part is yet to receive such a helping hand, and will likely have to do without in the foreseeable future — or perhaps forever, as the Uzbek government, implicitly conceding that the sea will never return, started afforestration of parts of its former bed in the 2010s in an effort to subdue pesticide-laden dust storms. So the southern sea is far, far away from its former banks and, unless in an exceptional year with much precipitation, still receding.

Landscape

The landscape is interesting, especially bearing in mind that you are walking on what used to be the bottom of the sea. There are sea shells all over the ground and dry sea plants. The places around are hilly and plain, as it is a deserty place. But it is beautiful to see.

Flora and fauna

Just desert plants.

Climate

In summer it is very hot and in winter very cold, so advisable to go there from March-May, September-November.