Lake Sarykamysh's area shrinks by 4% in six years: Environmental impact on Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

The area of Lake Sarykamysh, located on the territory of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, has decreased by 170 square kilometers over the past six years, MeteoJournal reports based on the results of studying satellite images.

Experts compared photographs from July 2018 and July 2024. During this time, the area of the lake decreased from 4110 to 3940 square kilometers, which is a 4% reduction.

The cause of the shrinkage is cited as the severe drought of 2021-2023. During these years, the flow of the Amu Darya River decreased, which affects the amount of drainage water filling Lake Sarykamysh. The increase in air temperature also had its effect, as it increases the amount of evaporation.

Three-quarters of Lake Sarykamysh are located in Turkmenistan, while one-quarter is in Uzbekistan. A significant part of the lake is part of the Kaplankyr Nature Reserve. It is home to 36 species of aquatic fauna and more than 90 species of birds.

Experts claim that in its history, this reservoir has changed its size several times and sometimes disappeared altogether. The lake in its modern form began to take shape in the early 1960s, as the development of new lands increased the influx of collector-drainage waters to the bottom of Sarykamysh. In 1977, the area of the lake was 1500 square kilometers, and in 1985 it was 3200 square kilometers.

The 4.14% reduction in the lake's area is not yet critical, but it is an important marker of a negative long-term trend that is already affecting the lake's ecosystem.