Map of the Month: Aral Sea, Golden Age Lake, and Irgiz-Turgay Basin
Map boundaries: 40 to 50 degrees North; 55 to 66 degrees East
Countries: Kazakhstan (Aktobe, Atyrau, Karagandy, Kostanay, Kyzylorda, and Mangystau), Russia (Baykonur), Turkmenistan (Ahal, Balkan, Dashoguz, and Lebap), and Uzbekistan (Bukhara, Karakalpakstan Republic, Samarqand, and Xorezm)
Overview
The central Asian desert landscapes covered by this map area are drained by streams which flow into closed basins. The fate of two bodies of water and two rivers depend on decisions being made by three countries—Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. The Aral River is shrinking due to diversion of its two sources of water—the Syr and Amu rivers. The area of the formerly freshwater to brackish “sea” shown on most maps is now inaccurate. Most of the water from the Amu River in Turkmenistan is diverted for irrigation. The drainage is collected in a series of canals and ultimately flows to the site of the former Kara Salt Lake, or to Sarykamish Lake, also in Turkmenistan. The Kara Salt Lake has been renamed Golden Age Lake in anticipation of it successfully collecting the drainage water. The Amu River no longer flows into the Aral Sea in Karakalpakstan. The irrigation around Dashoguz has saturated the ground and brought salt to the surface throughout the region. Numerous saline lakes have formed from the saturated ground. It is hoped that the drainage scheme will cause the water table to drop, allowing for reclamation of saline soils. Continue reading