The Aral Sea (/ ˈ ær əl /) [5] [a] was an endorheic lake lying between Kazakhstan to its north and Uzbekistan to its south, which began shrinking in the 1960s and had largely dried up into desert by the 2010s.

Jan 2, 2025 · We were told that there was a ship graveyard with the rusting wrecks of ships that used to sail the Aral Sea near Zhalanash, a small town about 65 kilometers away from Aral. The gravel road that leads to Zhalanash was very bumpy and dusty.

May 9, 2020 · The Aral Sea was the fourth largest body of fresh water in the world until 60 years ago when the Soviet government decided to divert the waters from the Amu Darya, better known as the Oxus, and Syr Darya rivers. Rather than feeding the lake, the rivers would irrigate thousands of acres of fields that had been given over to the production of cotton.

Mar 23, 2023 · Read on to learn all about what a day trip to the Aral Sea Ship Graveyard will entail, and the importance they have in Uzbekistan's history.

May 13, 2024 · Most of the Aral Sea tours are for 2 days and 1 night that covers Moynaq, the ship graveyard, Kurganch Kala, the Great Ustyurt Plateau and canyons, South Aral Sea, Sudochie Lake, village of Kubla Ustyurt, Necropolis of Mizdkhan and Fortress of Gaur Kala.

Nowadays, there are hardly 10 old vessels in the Kazakh part of the Aral sea. The majority of ships – 4 small boats – are located near Jalanash village – which is translated from Kazakh as 'bare', 'void'. They usually bring tourists here who come to see a …

Mar 27, 2024 · The main ship graveyard is a 15 minute walk from the old harbour, where you can find a number of shipwrecks lying in the desert, silent witness to the death of the Aral Sea. 63 km (2 hour off-road drive with a 4WD) from Aral lies the Zhalanash ship cemetery.

The Aral Sea was once the world's fourth-largest saline body of water, it has been steadily shrinking since the 1960s, after the rivers that fed it were diverted by Soviet Union irrigation projects.

Aug 24, 2012 · The Aral Sea, located between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, was once one of the largest lakes in the world. Beginning in 1918, though, Soviet central planners decided that cotton exports from the region were of vital importance and trumped all other considerations.

Jun 11, 2010 · One correction no one seems to have caught… The Aral Sea is a sea, not a lake. Significant devastation afterwards has been caused by the exposed salt bed and the agricultural chemicals used in futile attempts to meet Soviet 5 year plans.