Aralsk

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Introducing Aralsk

Aralsk, 475km northwest of Kyzylorda on the same road and railway, used to be an important fishing port on the shores of the Aral Sea. A large mosaic in its train station depicts how in 1921 Aralsk’s comrades provided fish for people starving in Russia. Today a large part of the Aral Sea is gone, victim of Soviet irrigation schemes that took water from its lifelines, the Syr-Darya and Amu-Darya rivers, and pushed the shoreline 60km out from Aralsk. If you want to witness the notorious Aral Sea environmental disaster first-hand, Aralsk is easier to visit, and more interesting, than similarly defunct ports in Uzbekistan. Nor is everything quite so gloomy here: efforts to save part of the sea seem to be succeeding and a small-scale fishing industry has started up again.

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Last updated: Feb 17, 2009

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Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. pbak avatar
    Re: Aralsk

    by pbak 18 August 2011

    Thanks a lot for all the answers! I guess I will just go for Aralsk and Zhalanesh then.
  2. spoorloze avatar
    Re: Aralsk

    by spoorloze 17 August 2011

    Hey pawel, I was ther on the 7th and 8th of august of this year, sow about a week ago :) In aralsk there is nothing much todo (sight…
  3. masterchan avatar
    Looking for travel buddies in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan in Septemb

    by masterchan 16 August 2011

    Hi all, I'm planning a trip to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan from September 5-23. I will be traveling by myself and don't have a…

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