In Central Asia, just in the middle between the Caspian Sea and the rapidly drying Aral Sea, there is a drainless and inaccessible lake Sarykamysh. Extremely interesting hydrology, as well as the history of the emergence of this reservoir. In addition, several interesting and creepy legends are associated with the lake.
Sarykamysh lake: the geography of the reservoir
Sarykamysh is one of the largest reservoirs in Central Asia and the largest lake in Turkmenistan. Finding it on the map is not difficult at all. The lake is located between the Caspian and Aral Seas, approximately in the middle between them. On the physical map below, it is marked with a red asterisk:
Geologically, Lake Sarykamysh occupies the central part of the basin of the same name. It looks like a flat oval depression, completely covered with s alt marshes and winnowed sands. The Sarykamysh depression, in turn, is the northern boundary of the distribution of the Karakum desert.
In political and administrative termsSarykamysh lake belongs to two Central Asian states. About 70% of its surface (southern part) is in Turkmenistan, and another 30% (northern and western parts) is in Uzbekistan. The northern shores of the lake belong to Karakalpakstan, a republic within Uzbekistan, while the southern and eastern shores belong to the Dashoguz velayat of Turkmenistan.
Hydrology, parameters and ichthyofauna of the lake
The name of the reservoir is of Turkic origin and translates as "yellow reed". The coastline of the lake is heavily indented and mostly sandy. Since ancient times, Sarykamysh Lake has been distinguished by a rich and unique animal world. Large fish (carp, pike perch, catfish and other species) are found in its waters, and numerous islands are full of game. Here you can meet mouflon, hyena, wild boar, pelican or flamingo. The Sarykamysh Reserve was specially created to protect waterfowl in the region.
Lake Sarykamysh has the following parameters:
- length - 120 km;
- width - 40 km;
- average depth - 8 m;
- max depth 40m;
- the total volume of water in the lake is about 12,000 cubic meters. meters.
The lake is elongated from north to southeast. The western shore of the reservoir is steep and precipitous, and its depth gradually increases with advancement to the eastern shore. From the east, an artificial channel flows into the lake, which is the main source of its filling.
Sarykamysh lake: the history of the reservoir
This endorheic reservoir with bitter-s altywater did not always exist on the "body" of the planet. It is known that he was at the end of the Neogene and in the Middle Ages. And at the end of the 19th century, the lake dried up again (you won’t find it on old Soviet maps). All these changes depended on whether the Sarykamysh depression accepted the waters of the Amu Darya or not. When the riverbed turned towards the Aral Sea, the lake dried up.
In Soviet times, the vast expanses of the republics of Central Asia were covered with cotton plantations. In autumn and winter, these plantations were thoroughly washed with a system of special irrigation canals. Water as a result of this process was saturated with harmful substances washed out of the soil. The used “flushing” water was diverted to desert and uninhabited areas, where many poisonous reservoirs formed over time. One of them was Lake Sarykamysh.
The filling of the Sarykamysh depression took place in the 70s of the last century. In 1977, the surface area of the lake was 1,500 sq. km, and by the end of the 80s it had increased to 3000 sq. km. Today, the total area of Sarykamysh is approximately 5 thousand square meters. km.
Ecological problems of the lake
How do people use Sarykamysh lake today? Actually, no way. After all, since 1971, its hollow was filled with poisonous substances (chemicals and pesticides) washed away from cotton plantations. How many of them have accumulated in the lake during all this time - no one can now say for sure. Nevertheless, in some areas of Sarikamysh, fishing is well developed.
Lakedifficult to access, and its shores are uninhabited. From the west and east, chinks (ledges) of the Ustyurt plateau hang steeply over its surface, and from the north, approaches to it are blocked by the ridges of Karabaur. On the south side, the shore of the lake is bordered by the sands of the Karakum. In addition, in many areas (due to fluctuations in the water level), the coastline has turned into impassable swamps.
Another serious problem of Lake Sarykamysh is the increased salinity of its waters. Now it is at the level of 15-20 ppm and is constantly growing.
In 2013, Turkmenistan launched a grandiose project to create a huge artificial lake Altyn-Asyr. For this project, 4.5 billion dollars were allocated from the state treasury. About 50% of the water inflow to the future lake should be provided by a collector canal that also feeds Lake Sarykamysh. What will happen to the reservoir in the future, in connection with the implementation of this "golden" project, no one knows for sure.
Monsters of Sarykamysh Lake
Various mystical stories and legends of Sarykamysh Lake began to be actively born in the mid-70s. How true they are is hard to say. But the notoriety of this place was rumored throughout the Soviet Union.
So, experienced fishermen told that they caught strange and unknown fish in the lake. Hunters found smoothly gnawed saiga skeletons on its banks. Who could leave them there? After all, poachers have never butchered their black prey so cleanly and neatly.
Later, in the vicinity of Sarikamish, people beganto meet with a huge and strange monster that looks like either a crocodile or a monitor lizard. These predators with large round eyes suddenly jumped out of the sand and attacked lone shepherds, travelers, fishermen or scientists.
Sarykamysh karkidons
Local monsters are popularly called karkydons. Most often, the Sarykamysh "chupacabra" was described as a crocodile with a moving tail and very long legs. The length of the monster's body reached two meters (another one and a half meters fell on the tail of the animal).
Karkidons mainly fed on saigas, rams and mouflons. Sometimes they attacked people. Many assumed that these monsters arose as a result of mutations of gray monitor lizards caused by huge doses of pesticides.
Did the Karkydons really exist? Or was it just one of the terrible legends? Now it is difficult to say, because there is not a single proof of their existence. It is believed that the fate of the Karkydons was decided at a secret meeting of the Politburo in 1978. The area was cleared of mutants secretly, with the involvement of the military. Although it is possible that a few individuals were kept for later study.
Conclusion
Sarykamysh Lake is a large drainless body of water in Central Asia, on the border of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The last time the depression of the lake was filled in the 70s of the last century. Along with water, a huge amount of harmful substances from agricultural plantations got into it, turning the lake into a poisonous s alt sump.
